Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 4, line 19, after “specified” to insert “by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission”.

A technical issue has been identified concerning the terms of the Bill as published. Section 14 of the Bill would insert a new section 6A into the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act of 1959 so as to allow limits to be placed on the tenure of an appointment of a person to any of the four posts discussed at this committee. It was felt that a time limit was important but I do not believe it is explicit enough as to who should actually determine that time limit. Parliamentary Counsel advises that it is implicit, but I prefer it to be explicit. For this reason I suggest that it is explicit that the Commission will make the decision on those time limits.