Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 29, line 15, to delete “instructions” and substitute “directions and orders”.

This is a return to my hobby-horse. We have had directions, orders and now we have instructions. This is the only place in the legislation that the word “instruction” appears. There has been reference to the fact that all orders must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It has also been said that orders can be annulled. We have directions that do not have to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and do not have to be complied with, although some directions in the legislation require compliance, for example, the disposal of assets. They must be published at a certain stage when it is deemed appropriate. Now we have reference to the agency having to comply with all guidelines and instructions that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform may from time to time, with the consent of the Minister, issue to the agency on the performance of its functions under this Part.
What is the difference between an instruction and a direction? The purpose of my amendment is to change the wording and for there to be compliance with all guidelines, instructions and orders the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may from time to time make, with the consent of the Minister, issue to the agency.