Department officials brief Flanagan on ‘stalled’ bills

Officials at the Department of Justice have briefed Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on the need to continue drafting new legislation on employment law, domestic violence, maternal deaths, legal aid and the family courts.

A briefing note was prepared for Mr Flanagan when he took over as Justice Minister from Frances Fitzgerald last month, The Irish Times reports.

Among the major pieces of priority legislation which officials told Mr Flanagan are “stalled in the drafting system” are:

Mr Flanagan will have to decide where to base the new family court and how many judges and resources to allocate to it.

Legislation to consolidate and simplify landlord and tenant, alcohol and liquor licensing, and domestic violence laws are also stalled.