Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Specifically on this and subsection (5), to provide that the Minister would consult with the joint committee would be important because, based on what I said earlier, it gives a Minister a free hand. Even though the Minister cannot see an instance where he would come forward with amended standards and direct the regulator to implement them, this section gives a future Minister a free hand to direct the regulator to change draft standards without any reference to the committee. I was considering tabling an amendment to delete subsection (5) so what Deputy Ó Broin has put forward is a compromise. It does not remove the Minister's powers, but requires the Minister to come to the committee and explain why he or she believes the standards must be varied or amended. If we leave it as it stands, there is no recourse to the committee. What Deputy Ó Broin has put forward is better than a deletion. I had been considering proposing the deletion of subsection (5) entirely.

Perhaps I have it wrong.