Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What is enacted by law can be reversed by law. To include a commitment that something will be done or something will automatically happen in three years' time does not meet the needs of the House. Three years is a long time and, as the Deputy said, it is unlikely that I will be sitting here then. There could be a change of Government or a change of personnel. It is important that in important situations the House exercises its will by way of primary legislation.

I do not want a situation where one arrangement falls out and another falls in on the basis of a line in a Bill. The record will show what the intention was when we made the provision. The Department of Finance will have it on file and the incoming Minister in three years time will be advised. It will then be up to the next Administration to decide whether it will do what we committed to do. One cannot tie in subsequent Administrations by a legislative provision.

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