Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Head 4 provides for further expansion of the role of the commission. What other functions are envisaged for the commission that would require statutory backing?

Head 6 had proposed that the reporting requirement be changed from three to five years. How was it decided that five years would be adequate? Was evidence used based on international comparisons or what was the basis for that?

Head 7 refers to the international rail service. I am just curious as to what this provides for. Is it specifically about the North and Brexit, or is the Department laying down procedure for something else into the future? The reason I seek clarity on this is I would not trust the Government or the Minister when it comes to privatisation by stealth. When the Department refers to future international agreements, what precisely is meant by that? If the Department is talking about the Enterprise service, we are an island. I do not see how we would need international agreements in that regard. Because the wording is so vague, I am just trying to understand what precisely is meant by it. What was the rationale behind it? It seems out of sync with the rest of the amendments. It seems as if it was just slung in there with a specific purpose and I just want to find out what it is about.