Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Consistency is a sign of a sick mind. In a logical world we would get the whole Oireachtas to agree that no regulations would be introduced without first being discussed at the relevant committee, but we do not live in logical world. If I am waiting for that to happen on a global scale, given the lack of progress in Dáil reform, I will be left waiting. What is needed to change this procedure, therefore, is a courageous Minister to become the bridgehead of change and to accept that what has been common in the past should not be accepted, in light of what the Taoiseach said on the day the Government was formed, that there would be a new way of doing things in the House and that Ministers would be much more accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Minister could lead the way and I would hope all his colleagues would follow and that an omnibus arrangement by order of the House would come into place specifying that all regulations, under whatever legislation, would be discussed with the relevant committee before being signed off by the House. I ask the Minister to reflect on the issue between now and Report Stage. Perhaps on Report Stage he will be able to say the Government has made a decision that from now on there will be primary legislation to amend legislation to ensure all regulations come before committees of the House. If that happens, I will withdraw the amendment. Having been a Minister and having started a process of discussing regulations with the committee, my experience was that it was helpful and should be provided for in the legislation. That nobody else is doing it does not mean the Minister should not lead.