Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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546. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to re-introduce the Statute Law Revision Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12634/16]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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547. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the statute law revision project; if it is proposed to continue with the project, in particular in respect of secondary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12635/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together.

I can confirm that I have requested the Chief Whip to arrange to have the Statute Law Revision Bill 2016 restored to the Seanad Order Paper.

The Statute Law Revision Bill 2016 is one of series of legislative measures to repeal spent and obsolete primary and secondary legislation. It expressly repeals 42% of in force Acts enacted by the Oireachtas between 1922 and 1950 (295 of 707), resulting in a significant reduction in the size of the Statute Book for that period. Enactment will facilitate the process of regulatory reform; ensure that the Irish Statute Book is significantly more modern and enhance public accessibility to the Statute Book; and facilitate future legislative measures to repeal, re-enact where necessary with amendments, and consolidate the statute law of the State. When enacted this Bill, together with the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2015 Acts, will collectively be the most extensive set of repealing measures in the history of the State, and the most extensive set of statute law revision measures ever enacted anywhere in the world.

Consideration will be given to continuing with this project in the context of other priorities which I am progressing.