Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand where the Deputy is coming from. There is a standard procedure surrounding the laying of regulations before the House. I ask the Deputy to read the fourth last paragraph on page 10 of the Bill. It defines the laying of regulations and orders and describes what is required. It also describes what must be done to annul an order and how the House can take action. I agree with the Deputy that before introducing a regulation, we should arrange a discussion by a committee to tease out the issues and thus ensure that we have got them right. I do not know whether we need to insert a requirement for a Minister to do so in primary legislation. I have been advised that such a provision is inadvisable. It is the House that should decide whether a regulation goes to a committee for consideration. I do not propose to accept the amendment. It goes too far into primary legislation even though it would make some sense to do it from an agricultural and animal health point of view.