General election to delay passing of two major pieces of legislation, says Simon Harris

The Taoiseach said it is the 'working expectation' that the Finance Bill will go through by next Thursday

Taoiseach Simon Harris welcoming the incoming President of the European Council, António Costa in Farmleigh House on Tuesday. Mr Harris said that he is 'not quite sure' if the Occupied Territories Bill will be passed during the lifetime of this government. Photo: Government Information Service

The Mental Health Act will not pass before the dissolution of the Dáil and the Occupied Territories Bill hangs in the balance as the Taoiseach says "we're not long away" from the general election.

Simon Harris said that the Mental Health Act, as a comprehensive piece of legislation, will take a significant period of time to pass.

Just because the Dáil is dissolved does not mean that any legislation not passed will disappear, he said, once it reconvenes TDs can reinstate legislation at exactly the point it was at.

"When it comes to mental health, I would imagine there will be a cross-party consensus to get that piece of legislation done urgently."

Middle East crisis

Speaking ahead of a meeting with incoming President of the European Council, António Costa, Mr Harris said that he is "not quite sure" if the Occupied Territories Bill will be passed during the lifetime of this government.

"We need to work collaboratively with the Opposition to try and progress this bill as much as possible."

In his meeting with Mr Costa, the Taoiseach raised the issue of trade relations with Israel. "The most important action that the European Union could take right now is reviewing trade relations at an EU level," he said.

Israel's parliament banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories is "despicable, disgraceful and shameful," Mr Harris said.

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"Europe now needs to find the moral courage, in my view, to act in relation to this. Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and others have been calling for more actions at the EU level and I'll be continuing to make that case," he said.

General Election

In terms of the election, it is the "working expectation" that the Finance Bill will go through by next Thursday and Mr Harris said he intends to move swiftly after the passage of the bill.

"There will be an election very shortly. I think you can sense it right across the country that people are beginning to engage," he said.