Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 8, line 23, to delete “in writing”.

This amendment relates to section 6 which concerns the outsourcing arrangements for the scheme administrator. Amendment No. 9 relates to section 8 which limits participation in the scheme to approved child care service providers that have signed a scheme contract with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. While references to communications throughout the Bill refer to communications in writing or by electronic means, the references to contracts in sections 6 and 8 refer only to agreements in writing. They do not, therefore, allow for the possibility of contracts that are solely held in electronic form and signed by means of a certified digital signature. To allow for this possibility and to ensure consistency in the approach throughout the Bill, amendments Nos. 5 and 9 delete the words "in writing" and as a result, a contract would be described simply as an agreement.

At a practical level, I would note that current contracts in place between my Department and child care providers are solely in electronic form. Therefore, this is an important point in terms of administrative efficiency for both child care providers and the State.