Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for their questions. This session is on legislation.

With regard to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has prioritised one Bill for publication during this parliamentary session. That is the agriculture appeals (amendment) Bill. The general scheme of the Bill was approved at Cabinet on 16 January this year and it is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.

On the issues Deputy Tóibín mentioned, I advise him to table a parliamentary question to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, or the relevant Minister to get a detailed reply on those.

To answer Deputy Boyd Barrett, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is prioritising one Bill for publication and two for drafting this parliamentary session. The child care (amendment) Bill the Deputy referred is a priority for publication. Pre-legislative scrutiny was completed in June last year and work is ongoing on the Bill. On the specific questions the Deputy raised, it would be a good idea to engage directly with the Minister on those.

Legislation prioritised for drafting in this session includes the prohibition of conversion practices Bill. Work on the Bill is ongoing and the general scheme is being drafted. Work is also progressing on the general scheme of the Equality Acts (amendment) Bill, which is a priority for drafting in this session.

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