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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1992
Eamonn G. Hall
Selected Government Acts and
Bills Before the Oireachtas
1992
The following list includes selected
Government Acts and Bills as at July
16, 1992. The Dail adjourned on
July, 10, and the Seanad on July 16,
1992 for the summer recess.
Irish Land Commission
(Dissolution)
Bill, 1989
(Bill No. 11 of 1989)
(With Explanatory Memorandum)
This Bill provides for the dissolution
of the Irish Land Commission, for
the winding up of the system of land
purchase, for the transfer of certain
functions exercisable under the Land
Purchase Acts, and for other
connected matters.
Presented in the Dail by the Minister
of Agriculture and Food 2/3/89.
Present position: at Committee stage
in the Dail 11/6/92.
Environmental Protection
Agency
Act, 1992
(No. 7 of 1992) (With
Explanatory Memorandum as
initiated)
This Act provides for the
establishment of an Environmental
Protection Agency which will have
the following main functions: the
control and regulation of scheduled
activities likely to pose a major risk
to environmental quality; the general
monitoring of environmental quality;
the provision of support, back-up
and advisory services to public
authorities and the promotion and
co-ordination of environmental
research. The Act also provides for a
number of miscellaneous matters
relating to the protection of the
environment and for the increase of
certain penalties.
Presented 10/12/90. Present position:
passed by both Houses of the
Oireachtas 15/4/92. Enacted
23/4/92. Commencement date: 23
April, 1992.
Road Bill, 1991
(Bill No. 12 of 1991)
(With Explanatory and Financial
Memorandum)
This Bill provides for the
construction and maintenance of
public roads, establishes a national
roads authority, provides for
motorways, busways and protected
roads, and other connected
matters.
Presented by the Minister for the
Environment 25/4/91. Present
position: referred to a Special
Committee of the Dail 7/7/92.
Dublin Institute of Technology Act,
1992
(No. 15 of 1992) (With
Explanatory Memorandum as
initiated)
This Act establishes the Dublin
Institute of Technology, defines its
functions and provides for connected
matters.
Presented by the Minister for
Education 14/6/91. Present position:
passed by both Houses of the
Oireachtas 10/7/92. Commencement
date: expected to be 1 January,
1993.
Regional Technical Colleges Act,
1992
(No. 16 of 1992) (With
Explanatory Memorandum as
initiated)
This Act establishes statutorily as
Regional Technical Colleges the
existing nine such Colleges as well as
the Limerick College of Art,
Commerce and Tfechnolgy; defines
main functions and provides for
connected matters.
Presented by the Minister for
Education 14/6/91. Present position:
passed by both Houses of the
Oireachtas 10/7/92. Commencement
date: expected to be 1 January,
1993.
Patents Act, 1992
(No. 1 of 1992)
This Act makes new provisions in
respect of patents and related
matters in substitution for the
provisions of the Patent Acts, 1964
and 1966, which are repealed subject
to transitional provisions; enables
effect to be given to certain
international conventions on patents.
Presented by the Minister for
Industry and Commerce 15/7/91.
Present position: passed by both
Houses of the Oireachtas 19/2/92.
Enacted: 27/2/92. Commencement
date: 1 August, 1992.
Solicitors' (Amendment) Bill, 1991
(Bill No. 31 of 1991) (With
Explanatory Memorandum)
This Bill amends and extends the
Solicitors' Acts 1954 and 1960. The
more important provisions are as
follows: increases the Law Society's
powers to deal with complaints
against solicitors and to intervene in
solicitors' practices; provides for the
appointment of a legal ombudsman
with power to oversee the handling
by the Society of complaints against
solicitors; strengthens the powers of
the Disciplinary Committee of the
High Court and provides for lay
membership thereof; amends the law
relating to the Compensation Fund
to provide that claims on the Fund
may in future be made only by
persons who are clients of solicitors;
provides for compulsory professional
indemnity insurance, updates and
amends the Society's functions in
relation to the education and
training of solicitors; promotes
competition in the provision of legal
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