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Executive’s Primary Legislative Programme 2007–2008

Executive’s Primary Legislative Programme 2007–2008
The Executive’s legislative programme of 15 new Bills for 2007-08 (in addition to 3 carried forward from 2006-07) was announced on 19 October 2007 by means of a letter to the speaker from the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and reviewed by the Executive on 28 February 2008, when the potential addition of a further 3 Bills was noted.   The purpose and status of each Bill is listed below.  Additional information on Bills that have been introduced to the Assembly can be found on the Northern Ireland Assembly Website and for Bills that have received Royal Assent further information can be located on the Office Of Public Sector Information Website.
Bills Introduced during the Autumn Term
NoTitle/DepartmentPurposeStatus
1
Children (Emergency Protection Orders)
(DHSSPS)
To remove an incompatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights of a procedural aspect connected with Emergency Protection Orders in respect of children.
Introduced  22 Oct 07
Royal Assent  14 Dec 07
2
Pensions
(DSD)
To improve coverage, generosity and sustainability of the State Pension and enact some simplification measures in private pensions.
Introduced  12 Nov 07
Royal Assent   11 Feb 08
3
Public Health Amendment
(DHSSPS)
To permit the Department to make regulations in connection with contamination, and thus comply with World Health Organisation International Health Regulations.
Introduced  26 Nov 07
Royal Assent     6  May 08
4
Charities
(DSD)
To provide for better regulation and governance of all charities operating in Northern Ireland.
Introduced  10 Dec 07
Royal Assent   9 Sept 09
Bills introduced during the Easter Term
NoTitle/DepartmentPurposeStatus
5
Building Regulations
(Amendment)
(DFP)
To allow the Department to write regulations to promote sustainable development and further the enhancement and protection of the environment. To enhance district council’s powers to address dangerous buildings. To move the building regulations away from current “deemed to satisfy” provisions towards a guidance-based system.
Introduced  25 Feb 08
6
Budget 2008
(DFP)
Supplementary Estimates 2007-2008 & Vote on Account for 2008 - 2009
Introduced  11 Feb 07
Royal Assent 12 March 08
Bills introduced / to be introduced during the Summer Term
NoTitle/DepartmentPurposeStatus
7
Commission for Victims and Survivors
(OFMDFM)
To replace the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland established by the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 with a Commission for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland.
Introduced  31 March 08
Royal Assent  23 May 08
8
Local Government (Boundaries)
(DOE)
To provide for 11 local government districts in Northern Ireland, for the division of those districts into wards, for the appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to recommend the boundaries and names of those districts and wards and the number of wards in each district; and for connected purposes.
Introduced  21 April 08
Royal Assent  23 May 08
9
Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators)
(DOE)
To ensure the safe and proper use of goods vehicles, ensure fair competition in the industry, protect the environment around operating centres, enable more effective enforcement and contribute to a reduction in organised crime.
Introduced  12 May 08
10
Mesothelioma
(DSD)
The Bill will provide for people with mesothelioma to be paid a lump sum compensation payment within 6 weeks of making a claim.  Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is invariably fatal. The Bill will ensure sufferers of mesothelioma can receive compensation and benefit from it while at the same time knowing that their families will be secure in the future.
Introduced  10 May 08
Royal Assent  2 July 08
11
Child Maintenance
(DSD)
The Bill contains provisions which will:
  • enable parents to make a choice about their child maintenance by removing the requirement for parents with care who claim benefits to be treated as applying for child maintenance;
  • encourage parents to make their own arrangements by increasing the amount of maintenance that parents with care on benefit can keep before it affects their benefits;
  • simplify and streamline the child maintenance assessment process; and improve collection and enforcement processes and increase efforts to collect and manage debts.
Introduced  2 June 08
Royal Assent  2 July 08
12
Budget (No 2)
(DFP)
Main Estimates 2008-2009.
Introduced  9 June 08
Royal Assent  2 July 08
13
Civil Registration
(DFP)
The civil registration reform will provide for improved service delivery, better access to services and information and the introduction of new and more responsive services.  It will also involve much wider use of technology to improve customer service.  
Introduced  17 June 08
14
Presumption of Death
(DFP)
The proposed legislation will create a single and comprehensive procedure in Northern Ireland for obtaining a court order which would declare a missing person to be presumed dead and which would be binding for all purposes, specifically the registration of the missing person’s death.
Introduced  1 July 08
15
Diseases of  Animals
(DARD)
The Bill contains provisions which will:
  • protect and improve NI’s animal health status through enhanced disease prevention, biosecurity and control measures;
  • enable policies to be introduced reflecting the latest developments in research and technology to trace and combat disease; and
  • clarify and extend existing enforcement powers and introduce measures to deal with certain types of offences.
Introduced  30 June 08
16
Public Authorities (Reform)
(OFMDFM)
To abolish the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the Northern Ireland Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (and make provision for other miscellaneous matters).
Introduced  17 June 08
17
Health and Social Care (Reform)
(DHSSPS)
To provide the legislative framework within which the proposed new health and social services structures can operate.
Introduced  23 June 08
18
Education Reform
(DE)
To restructure education bodies (DE, Boards and NDPBs) and their functions in line with Review of Public Administration.
Projected date of Introduction Autumn 2008