Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 36:

In page 17, subsection (1)(a), line 35, to delete “functions.” and substitute the following:"functions, but in each year shall hold not less than one meeting in each period of three months.".

As this is the first meeting of the new year, without wishing to be accused of rambling, I wish all members of the committee a happy new year.
To deal directly with amendments Nos. 36 and 37, amendment No. 36 is a minor amendment, the primary aim of which is to ensure the authority will begin to meet promptly after it becomes established and not become moribund at any future stage. Amendment No. 37 is pragmatic and has been designed to ensure the authority will not become hamstrung by an inability to ensure there is always a majority of lay members at every meeting. It provides for a better balance than the original provision which required a lay majority of three at every meeting.