A total of 30 new bills will be progressed by the summer recess under the Government’s legislative programme.

Chief Whip, Seán Kyne (pictured) said this follows on from the Brexit legal agenda launched in January.

Priority list

The priority list comprises legislation from 13 Government departments and focuses on areas including housing, climate action and the environment, healthcare, social welfare, gender equality, employment and judicial matters.

This includes legislation that will:

• Establish the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement as a stand-alone agency,
• Provide for a Parent and Student Charter in every school,
• Put the Land Development Agency on a legislative footing,
• Extend jobseekers’ benefit to the self-employed,
• Introduce mandatory open disclosure in the health service,
• Bring in mandatory reporting for companies in relation to the gender pay gap.

Plastics

The Government is also planning to fund climate change measures and support public service broadcasting in the local and independent media sectors, as well as banning micro-bead plastics.

Legislation to underpin the National Broadband Plan is also in the offing.

The IDA has also been told to develop critical industrial and commercial facilities in regional locations.

“Other important reforms which we will work on during this Dáil session include the introduction of mandatory open disclosure in terms of patient safety, the widening of HIQA’s remit, and the introduction of a mandatory obligation on businesses to report gender pay differences,” said Sean Kyne. 

Official Languages Bill

“As Minister for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands I’m acutely aware of the importance of the Official Languages Bill for Irish speakers and Gaeltacht communities and I am committed to the publication of this bill and its introduction in the Dáil during this session,” he said.