Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The good thing about our discussion is that it shows the Minister is listening and is prepared to engage with us. I welcome that positive aspect but I accept that it might not be exact protocol to have a little chat on Second Stage.

I am concerned with the establishment of the proposed regulator. If it is the Minister's intention to proceed in this regard, then a provision should be introduced on Committee Stage whereby the regulator can be stood down and his powers transferred to somebody else. We will require details of the salary that will be paid to the regulator, the costs, overheads, etc., relating to the running of his office, etc. This is a case of here we go again and members of the public will not be happy when they discover that a new quango is being established.

Section 12 relates to the resignation of the regulator or his removal from office if he does something wrong, if he goes insane or whatever.

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