Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Catherine Murphy and Brian Stanley for their amendments. Deputy Murphy is correct that there is a danger of corporate policy groups becoming unwieldy. The unintended consequence of the amendment would be that it would remove the requirement that chairpersons of strategic policy committees, SPCs, be members of a corporate policy group, CPG. As the corporate policy group has the brief to manage the flow of business of the council and ensure an integrated approach is taken to business, its membership must include the chairpersons of the various strategic policy committees.

I have often believed that where the leaders of the political parties and groups are not represented on the corporate policy group, the group will often operate as a secret society and will not keep others fully informed. My intention in this provision was to address this issue. However, I do not want the unintended consequence to which Deputy Murphy alludes to arise, nor do I want corporate policy groups to become unwieldy with most members of the council on them. While my intentions were honourable, I do not believe the measure will work in practice. I will, therefore, remove the provision and find other more appropriate arrangements. I will introduce the relevant amendments later.