Dail to see 19 Bills published in next session

Nineteen Bills are expected to be published during the next session of the Dáil.

The Dáil resumes sitting tomorrow following the Easter break. The Government chief whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, announced details today of the Government's legislative programme.

Prominent among the 19 pieces of legislation are changes to the wording of the provisions for mandatory drugs sentences that were added to the Criminal Justice Bill in 1999.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, plans to amend the Bill to ensure minimum 10-year jail sentences for convicted drug dealers found in possession of drugs worth over €12,700. It is understood Mr McDowell intends to take some of the sentencing discretion out of the hands of judges.

Anti-drugs campaigners, particularly Dublin North Central Independent TD Mr Tony Gregory,  have been extremely vocal in recent times over the number of cases where these mandatory sentences are ignored.

Mr McDowell also plans to strengthen the law in relation to sentencing for illegal possession of firearms. He said earlier this month he would be proposing the introduction of mandatory sentences for those convicted of such offences. A gun amnesty is also being considered to allow people to hand over firearms before mandatory sentences are introduced.

Ms Hanafin said the Government also "remains committed" to introducing the long-awaited Disability Bill. This will be brought before the Oireachtas "at the earliest possible date", she said. The Bill has been put off several times since it was first proposed in 2002.

The Bill is intended to replace a Disability Bill which was withdrawn at the end of the last Dáil because of opposition from disability rights campaigners, who argued the proposals did not give legally enforceable rights.

Another controversial Bill, the State Airports Bill, will formally establish independent and autonomous authorities for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

The Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill will also be brought forward for approval. This will establish a public sector agency to deliver the driver testing service.

Other bills to be submitted include the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill. The Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill, the Residential Tenancies Bill and the Equality Bill.

Since last December, 15 bills have been published and 12 have been passed. In total, 71 bills have been passed since this Government took up office in June 2002.