Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The amendment is primarily a result of discussions in the Seanad. I have decided to introduce a catch-all reporting provision, mirroring several such reporting provisions on the Statute Book. This will require a report to issue within five years of the Bill’s enactment. The provision will not need to be commenced; it will come into effect automatically on enactment. The report will provide details of a review into the operation of the enacted Bill over that five-year period and I intend for it to be comprehensive, detailed and forthright.

It is my hope that a number of proposed amendments will be withdrawn today with the introduction of a new reporting requirement. Importantly, this will not be a stand-alone report as the provision will require regular reports to issue every five years. Finally, copies of the report will be laid before the Houses and published on my Department’s website.