Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 3, to delete lines 27 to 31, and in page 4, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:“(b) Where the Minister is informed by the committee that it will not complete its work on or before 31 March 2017 or is otherwise satisfied that the committee will not complete its work on or before that date, he or she may, on or before that date, make an order extending the first-mentioned period for such further period, commencing on the day immediately following the expiration of the first-mentioned period, as does not exceed the period that he or she believes the committee will require to complete its work and is specified in the order.”.

Amendment No. 7 further clarifies the provision to provide for the Oireachtas committee to request an extension of time in order to facilitate it in the completion of its work. The draft legislation as it stands states that if the Minister is satisfied that the committee needs more time, he or she shall extend the period by ministerial order. The amended text ensures that I, as Minister, have to be satisfied that the committee does indeed need the additional time requested in order to complete its work. I can assure the committee that I will ensure it is afforded whatever amount of time is needed and that I will have no difficulty using the power to extend that time period if it is warranted.

This amendment is therefore worded to ensure the Minister will only extend the suspension period if he or she is satisfied that the special Oireachtas committee genuinely needs extra time for its work. I think there was a view that it was important to have in the wording the facilitation of a request by the committee, which is what is covered in the new amended wording, as well as the Minister's option if he is satisfied that more time is needed. That was proposed following a discussion with Deputy Cowen. I can understand where he is coming from because the discussions were always on the basis that if the committee needs more time and requests more time, the Minister may facilitate that. That is wording change we have made, which I think is more accurate in terms of the commitments and the reassurance that were given a number of weeks ago on this issue.