Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am looking for a few further clarifications. It is clear from the Minister of State's very helpful summary that there is, first of all, no public consultation with respect to the proposed amendment that is being insisted upon by the Minister. I am unclear as to why there is the provision for the six weeks, whereby if there is not a resolution, the amendment will be deemed to be made. I am interested to know if that is a standard provision used elsewhere or if it is something specific to here. Is it to give the members the option that they do not have to have a meeting for a positive resolution but if they do not have a meeting with a negative resolution that the amendment proceeds after the six weeks? Where the members of the assembly reject the proposal and the OPR issues the draft direction, in a case where the Minister opts to proceed with the direction, is it then a legal requirement of the director of the regional assembly to give effect to that? Is it the case that the direction is to the director of the assembly rather than to the elected members so it simply just overrides their view and the director proceeds in accordance with direction from the Minister?