Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 61 proposes that all ETB school boards of management shall include at least two members of the ETB and that at least one of those be present at any meeting of the board of management. The issue is that members of the ETB receive travel and subsistence expenses for attendance at the meetings and this amendment could give rise to a charge on the revenue, and that is the reason the amendment has been ruled out of order under Standing Order 156(3). Obviously, it involves a cost.

Under the Standing Orders which have been adopted by these House, the rule is that an amendment to a Bill which could have the effect of imposing or increasing a charge upon the revenue may not be moved by any Member, save a member of the Government - a Minister or Minister of State.