Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed)

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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It is a first for the Minister and it is the first time I have heard him use that phrase. It is a significant phrase, loaded with meaning. I thank the Minister for his response. I understand his explanation and the intention of this section. The intention of my amendment is to further strengthen the robustness of the legislation because those who will be covered by it are the kind of people who have resources available to them to challenge decisions with which they may be uncomfortable. None of us wants to see this legislation challenged. We want to see it work from day one. The public expects that to be the case and the intention of my amendment was to add an additional robust step to galvanise the robustness, procedural and otherwise, of the legislation. We are all mindful of the impact of the Zalewski case and it clearly punctuates practically every section of this Bill. There is a lot of learning to be done from the Zalewski judgment and the outcome of that case. I would prefer it if the Minister accepted this amendment but I understand and appreciate the case he has made for not doing so. I do not intend to press the amendment because I have made my point on the record.