Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 69:

In page 22, line 14, after "threatened" to insert ", with the approval of Dáil Éireann,".

This is the old favourite triple lock system, with the approval of Dáil Éireann, which has been discussed ad nauseam for the past week with regard to this and other legislation. We are losing sight of this provision as time goes by. There are those who say it is a good thing that everything should be independent but I do not agree. Legislation produced in Parliament should be subject to Parliament and its operation, within reason, apart from the day-to-day administration, should have some reason to resort to Parliament for approval as time goes by.

There is far too much development taking place in this country. The late Brian Lenihan, a former Member of this House, used to say that the formation of quangos was coming with such rapidity that one would be dizzy looking at them. It is regrettable and a sure sign of Governments and Ministers opting out of responsibility for being in the firing line when a decision they do not want to make arises. However, this does not stop them from talking to RTE or various other radio stations whenever it suits them. This is not a personal criticism of the Minister. It is a fact of life that whether we like it or not, this House is moving further away from giving approval, especially where large corporations are concerned. This means Ministers need not get involved not only on a daily basis but hardly ever. If there is a crisis, the commission will handle it and there will be no reference to anybody else. If there is good news and oil has been found and gas is spewing out of the ground at some location in some part of the country, the Minister naturally will become involved. The amendment is useful and I ask the Minister to consider it.

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