Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The Bill provides that in a great number of cases, the regulations must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, but that in other cases they need not be. If, for example, Garda uniforms are provided for in regulation, is the size of the harp on the jacket button to be the subject of a statutory instrument? Is that what the Opposition wants? I do not think so. On the other hand, it has to be the subject of some form of regulation. Under the existing law, some forms of regulation are put before the Houses, and will be under this law, whereas others are not. A blanket approach of the kind suggested by Deputy Costello's amendment is cumbersome. It is delusional that if that were the case, it would increase the democratic accountability of the way in which the Garda is run. I doubt it would, and it would add to the unread pile of paper in the Oireachtas Library.

I do not wish to digress in a disorderly fashion but the Deputy has consistently suggested I am responsible for the order in which the amendments have been tabled. My Department submitted all its amendments by 7.30 p.m. last Monday while Deputy Ó Snodaigh's amendments were submitted the following day. I have no control whatsoever over whether the amendments appear on green or white sheets or in what order they are tabled. That is a matter for the Bills Office and I have no input whatsoever in this regard. All I did was deliver the amendments by a specified deadline, which was extended to 7.30 p.m. last Monday, and I have not submitted a line to that office since. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was treated somewhat more generously and he was permitted to table his amendments——

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