Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I argued for consultation but in a quick, efficient and effective manner. I argued for the Department simply to go and do it. My experience of other legislation is that those responsible talk about doing it and years go by. My point was not to try to remove consultation. If people want to do it, then they should do it and get on with it and give us the information and feedback.

It is not a political issue but rather a departmental issue across many Departments and it prevents legislation being progressed. That affects the people we represent and the commitments we make. I believe in consultation. Reforms are promised. One Minister of State has mentioned centralising the entire consultation process. I know that is not what this Bill is about but there is a plan for a centralised consultation process that would move it away from Departments. Perhaps it was the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, who mentioned it. We need to do this more quickly than we have been doing it. I have an interest in the gambling control Bill. Every time I ask about it, consultation is the reason given for why we are delayed and we are six years down the line now. The Department of Justice and Equality is not moving quickly enough on that front. That is not a ministerial issue but a departmental issue. We have seen it in the Department of Health with mandatory disclosure. Officials wanted more consultation and we saw the impact of that. It is a problem. I have said enough.