Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 32:

In page 59, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:

"(3) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the details of any sale completed in accordance with subsection (1).".

This amendment concerns section 65 of the Bill which is a restatement of section 45 of the Fisheries Act 1980. It allows the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to sell certain fisheries, fishing rights and businesses vested in him or her. Deputy Coveney was seeking to have any such sale subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann. Such restrictions are not applied to other agencies or Ministers and I do not think it necessary, particularly as the provision is safeguarded by the required approval of the Minister for Finance. Nevertheless, having taken on board the points made during the Committee Stage debate on this section, I am proposing to include a provision whereby the Minister will notify the Oireachtas joint committee of the details of any sale completed under this section. which I trust will alleviate the Deputy's concerns. I trust that amendment No. 32 will be accepted on that basis.

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