Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I welcome the Minister's amendment in this regard. It is a great improvement. I am glad she has lived up to her commitment. She was sympathetically disposed towards the amendment I put forward. I like her amendment because it also allows for more than the process whereby a document is placed in the Library and we have 21 days to respond to it. The provision in this respect is specific; a decision must be made in effect and approval given by each House. That is a much more appropriate approach. It gives significance to something which may never be happen but which would be a major and serious decision for a Minister to make. The fact that it will be made by the Oireachtas rather than an individual Minister is appropriate to the importance of such a decision.

I appreciate it is not fair to do this but I am still trying to chase up the statutory instrument in relation to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board.

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