Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 6, line 8, after “subsection (1)” to insert the following:“by inserting, “and debated by either or both Houses of the Oireachtas” after “House of the Oireachtas” and ”.

As has been discussed so far, the Bill provides for significant changes in the role and remit of SFI and includes the creation of the role of a chief scientific adviser. The legislation has elicited significant comment from the scientific community, including the likes of Professor Peter Higgs.

My amendment seeks to provide a review mechanism. I want the Minister to allow for peer review of the legislation, its impact and how it works. We have heard a lot about the Government's objective to strengthen and increase the scrutiny and review roles of the Oireachtas. In 2011 and 2012 the committee deliberated on impending legislation and identified the important issues. They have become more important and have probably led, in some cases, to certain initiatives not being as successful as the Government wanted. My amendment opens the door towards that.