Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 54:

In page 14, before section 23, to insert the following new section:

24.—The Sea Fisheries Act 1952 is amended—

(a) in subsection (1) (amended by section 1 of the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1982) of section 18, by the insertion of "made after the Minister's having consulted with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform" after "recommendation of the Minister",

(b) in subsection (1) of section 21, by the insertion of "with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and" before "after consultation with the Minister",

(c) in subsection (5) of section 21, by the insertion of ", after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform," after "may", and

(d) in section 22, by the insertion of "and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform" after "Minister for Finance".".

This amendment relates to Central Fund payments. We have already discussed the issue, not in terms of this amendment but in terms of the role of the Central Fund and how payments are to be made. The amendment relates to section 81 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1952. It provides that the Minister for Finance may, on the recommendation of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and after the Minister has consulted the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, advance sums to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara from the Central Fund. The amendment to section 21 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1952 provides that, for the purposes of providing for the repayment by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara of the advances made to it from the Central Fund, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara shall make to the Minister for Finance half yearly payments commencing on such date and continuing for such a number of years for such an amount and payable at such times as the said Minister, with the approval of the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, and after consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall appoint.

Section 21 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1952 provides that all sums paid by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to the Minister for Finance under this section on foot of interest shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such a manner as the said Minister may, after consultation with the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, direct. Section 22 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1952 provides that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara may, with the consent of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and after consultation with the Minister for Finance and the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, borrow temporarily by arrangement with bankers such sums as it may require for the purpose of providing for current expenditure.

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