Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is an exact restatement of the provision in existing legislation. It is only an enabling power, which already existed, for the Minister to bring in regulations. My information is that regulations have not been introduced to date. It is a restatement of a power that has always been in the legislation entitling the Minister to make regulations. A Minister cannot make regulations unless he or she has a statutory power to do so. It is just repeating that the Minister has the power to make regulations. It does not mean that he will make regulations. My information is that regulations have not been made in this regard at any stage.

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