Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the point the Deputy is making. The Government will have to set up what the prescribed documents are in terms of looking at the regulations around the NPF. Outside of those documents, the Minister "may have regard" to such plans. Therefore, we have to put in something whereby the Minister at the time or Government at the time "may have regard" to same. The phrase "shall have regard" means the prescribed documents have to be looked at. It is, dare I say it, a general covering section of the Bill that allows the Minister to consider everything. The Minister might decide there is some research document he or she deems to be relevant that is not prescribed under the regulations.