The Government is to concentrate on major issues of public concern, such as insurance reform, over the next few months in the Dáil.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) will be established in an attempt to cut the cost of delivering compensation awards to accident victims.
Once set up, the PIAB will be first used to deal with claims against employers' liability insurance, although it will be then extended to motor accident claims.
"Tacking the high cost of insurance is a Government priority," Ms Mary Hanafin, the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State, declared.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, will face a particularly challenging period as he is in charge of six key pieces of legislation.
The Civil and Liability and Courts Bill will require alleged accident victims to begin their legal action within a year, rather than within three years, as is now the case.
Claimants will face heavy fines and up to 10 years in jail if they make false witness statements, or give false instructions to their solicitor. "This will contribute to the easing of the insurance burden both for the business and personal sectors while, at the same time, ensuring that genuine claimants receive proper compensation," Ms Hanafin said.
The Minister for Justice will begin the passage of the Garda Síochána Bill during the autumn session. It will be the biggest reform of the Garda since the 1920s.
The Garda Inspectorate will form a key element of the legislation, while Mr McDowell must also further explain his plans to curb communications between gardaí and the media.
Legislation dealing with the consequences of the resignation of Mr Justice Fergus Flood from the Flood tribunal will also have to be put through.
The decision by Mr Justice Flood to resign has raised questions over whether people, such as a former minister of foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, could be left to pay their own costs. The Government says its legislative programme illustrates the Government's "sustained determination" to prioritise key policy areas and deliver on a five-year Programme for Government.
However, legislation setting up the organisation to run a national stadium in Abbotstown appears to have fallen further down the Cabinet's list of priorities.
The legislative list is equally vague about a delivery date for the Critical Infrastructure (Dublin Metro) Bill from the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan. The legislation is intended to speed up compulsory purchase order procedures and accelerate the planning rules for major projects.
The European Communities (Amendment) Bill will be produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs to provide for the accession into the European Union of 10 new member-states.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, will pilot the Health and Social Care Professionals Regulatory Bill, which will force all such workers to register.
