Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I have the highest regard for Mr. Carroll's Department but I always had the sense - I have said it to the Minister and will reiterate it to him later when he comes in - that since it covers communications, digital policy, natural resources, the environment and climate action with 250 civil servants, it is stretched beyond its capability if it is to take on additional functions. What I propose would assist the Department in having an independent State-supported, State-regulated, Department-guided agency to make sure we are ahead of the game rather than chasing it. I firmly believe the cost of setting up such a mediation service would be very quickly returned.

The Department sees nothing in the drafting of this Bill that presents any legal or other difficulties. It is more to do with the policy approach. I compliment and thank the legal advisory service. We had counsel advising us on every stage on this. It took a long time. I thank Ms Sinead Mercer, in particular. She was our researcher who worked on it. This went through the legal wringer from our side. Does the Department see any difficulty in the drafting of the Bill?