Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was a bit perplexed when I read section 18. In addition to responding to the amendments, I will ask the Minister of State to clarify some aspects of that section for my benefit, if not for the benefit of anybody else. It states: "The registration body may arrange with any person to assist it, the Board or a committee of the Board, in the proper discharge of its functions." Obviously, the drafters of the legislation have something relatively specific in mind. Will the Minister of State elaborate on the kinds of persons, organisations or assistance?

My amendment, amendment No. 9, relates to section 18(3). The nature of the provision struck me as very broad. It states: "The registration body may make rules for facilitating and discharging its functions and the functions of the Board or a committee of the Board." I would have thought the making of the rules would have been more appropriate for the Minister, Government or some such body. Maybe it is the nature of these rules are of a different order and, therefore, they do not require an outside individual such as the Minister of State or Government.

However, I would prefer to see some level of requirement for engagement with the Minister and the Oireachtas on the setting of rules.

Amendment No. 12 relates to how there are still significant question marks in the public arena over sections of the construction industry. Therefore, I am sure that part of the Minister of State's response will be that there is nothing to stop the Oireachtas committee from asking the industry to attend and speak to it. Having a statutory requirement increases the significance of that, though. While my amendment No. 9 is much more significant, having a formal requirement to engage with the committee would be appropriate.