Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I just want to put two points on record. The new memorandum of understanding, MOU, for Private Member's Bills, agreed at the Dáil Business Committee in December and in place from the start of this month states:

Under this MoU, the Bills Office will conduct a preliminary assessment in relation to Money Messages once the Bill has passed Second Stage. However the assessment will not be finalised until Committee scrutiny is completed, and Messages will not be requested from DPER until after the Order for Committee Stage is agreed.

The fact that the Bills Office has made that decision in advance of this discussion is totally contrary to the procedure in the MOU agreed by all parties at the committee. The remaining Bills awaiting Committee Stage should undergo scrutiny under the terms of the MOU. Under the terms of the MOU, it seems that a decision should not have been taken before this discussion. I wish to place that fact on the record.