Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 28:

In page 11, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:

"(12) All regulations made pursuant to subsection (11) shall require the prior approval of the Dáil.".

I have proposed similar amendments to a number of justice Bills. The amendment will give greater scrutiny to the House when making or changing regulations. In a number of places this Bill gives the Minister power to make regulations. Amendments Nos. 28 and 31 seek to make those regulations subject to prior approval by the Dáil.

Amendment No. 57 proposes a more fundamental change to section 16. The amendment would substitute a paragraph so that regulations would not merely be laid before the Houses but would be subject to the prior approval of the relevant Oireachtas committee, currently the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.

The amendments would make the Minister more accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Given that the Minister usually has the support of Members on the Government side, this should not present a problem. However, the amendments would allow the House, on a regular basis, to review what is happening and ensure that regulations are proportionate.

See this speech in context