Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 30:

In page 32, subsection (3), lines 12 and 13, to delete all words from and including “the” where it firstly occurs in line 12 down to and including “Skills” in line 13 and substitute “any Minister”.

I will not rehearse what we have already argued in this regard. As I said, the principle is reflected throughout and it may arise once or twice more. I do not believe the measure should be confined to the specified Ministers. In this instance, the provision is specific to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. On the last occasion, it was down to the agency. Here it states the Minister may consult the Minister for Health or the Minister for Education and Skills before developing a performance framework which includes matters that relate to the functions of those Ministers. Arguably, there is a stronger case for the Minister conceding in this instance. She is more than conversant with the fact that issues will present across other portfolios also. There is no point in her telling us that the legislation implies "any Minister" as it is specific. With regard to children, all too sadly, it is far too limiting.