462 / 482
GAZETTE
DECEMBER 1989
available from the Land Registry.
. . . The proposal I am making to
establish a semi-State corporation
has the approval of the Incorpor-^
ated Law Society.
Mr. Flanagan:
I agree wholeheart-
edly with a discussion document
produced by the Incorporated Law
Society in November 1988 which
stated that the Land Registry and
indeed the Registry of Deeds are
inappropriately placed under the
auspices of the Department of
Justice.
The purpose of the motion is to
change matters and I hope that . . .
it will spur the Minister for Justice
into some badly needed action.
The Minister for Justice, Mr.
Burke:
I move amendment No. 1.
to delete the words after "Dail
É i r eann" and subs t i t u te t he
following:
"notes that the Minister for
Justice is carrying out an urgent
general review of the operations of
the Land Registry and Registry of
Deeds with a view to bringing
about substantial improvements in
the level of services provided by the
Registries."
" . . . the delays
currently being
experienced by
members of the public
and by the legal
profession who use the
registries are
unacceptable."
. . . The services provided by the
registries are essential to the public
interest and I fully accept the point
made in the motion that the delays
currently being experienced by
members of the public and by the
legal profession who use the
registries are unacceptable. It is my
intention to take the necessary
steps to minimise delays and to
ensure that the services are pro-
vided in an efficient and cost-
effective manner. However, before
I can finalise the steps which are
necessary, I need to review the
operation of the registries and to
examine carefully the various
options which are open to me,
including the option of establishing
a semi-State corporation.
Much reference has been made
tonight to the fact that the Law
Society referred to the semi-State
s t r uc t u re as being the ideal
structure in their review of the
operation of the Land Registry. Like
most other people, including all the
Members of this House, their main
concern was not the structure but
to try to remove the delays for
people.
. . . Reconstitution of the regis-
tries as some form of semi-State
corporation would require legisla-
tion which would take a consider-
able amount of time. Apart from
difficulties in drawing up detailed
proposals and drafting a Bill, the
legislation would not be without
controversy.
" . . . I will not delay in
putting proposals to
the Government in the
matter as soon as the
review is complete,
which will be shortly."
Shortly after taking up office in
July, I informed the House that I
had undertaken a full review of the
operations of the Land Registry and
Registry of Deeds. That review is
still on-going as a matter or urgency
and is not being long-fingered.
There are a number of options open
to me and I believe that all possible
so l u t i ons must be carefully
examined so that in the end the
best interests of the public will be
served by whatever solution is
implemented. I am, however, aware
of the need for urgency in finalising
my review and I can assure the
House that I will not delay in
putting proposals to Government in
the matter as soon as the review is
complete which will be shortly.
Mr. Ferris:
The Labour Party amendment to
this motion reads:
" w i t h the freedom to retain and
invest whatever surplus it accumu-
lates in modernisation of equip-
ment and facilities, and in adequate
professional staffing levels.
Mr. O'Leary, Mr. Davern, Mr.
Spring, Mr. O'Donoghue, Mr. D.
Ahern, Mr. Clohessy, Mr. McCartan,
Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Carey, Mrs.
Taylor-Quinn and Mr. Deenihan also
spoke on the motion.
The Minister's amendment was
accepted by 66 votes to 62.
Amending Legislation -
Solicitors' Acts
Mr. Allen
asked the Minister for
Justice when he proposes to
introduce legislation to amend the
Solicitors Acts.
Government Publications
The publications in this list may be purchased from the Government Publica-
tions Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. If publica-
tions are to be sent by post, the amount of postage should be added to the price.
Catalogue No.
Price
Postage
1/89
Garda Siochana Act, 1989 (20g)
90p
32p
2/89
Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act,
1989 (20g)
70p
32p
3/89
Insurance Act, 1989 (50g)
£4.45
32p
6/89
Judicial Separation and Family Law
Reform Act, 1989. (50g)
£3.55
32p
7/89
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act, 1989. (100g)
£5.75
42p
10/89
Finance Act, 1989. (200g)
£9.30
63p
13/89
Shannon Free Airport Development
Company Limited (Amendment) Act
1989. (20g)
90p
32p
14/89
University of Limerick Act, 1989. (20g)
90p
32p
15/89
Dublin City University Act, 1989. (20g)
90p
32p
16/89
Central Bank Act, 1989. (200g)
£7.55
63p
17/89
Building Societies Act, 1989. (250g)
£11.55
63p
J61/42
Report on Crime 1988. (PI. 6457)
(12 5g)
£2.65
63p
J113/1
Garda Siochana Complaints Board An
nual Report 1988-89. (PI. 6637)
(110g)
£2.20
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J114
Rules of the Superior Courts (No. 1),
1989. Guide to changes in the Rules of
the Superior Courts, 1986. (100g)
£2.65
42p
440