Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 10, lines 5 to 8, to delete all words from and including “on” in line 5 down to and including “provisions.” in line 8 and substitute “not later than 12 months from enactment.”.

This is a timing issue and relates to section 8 which deals with the publication of information on FOI bodies. The legislation, as drafted, states:

Section 8 shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose......

I think the better option would be to put a timescale on it. My amendment proposes that section 8 become operational not later than 12 months from the date of enactment of the legislation. That would give sufficient time. It recognises the administrative realities and burdens, but nonetheless it would not leave the provision so open-ended and discretionary as to be insufficiently robust.