Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is important to make a distinction between a law that is made giving or removing substantial entitlements and a procedure that exists for a person to lodge an appeal if he or she is in some way disappointed or has lost out on an application. All this does is to allow the Minister to provide, by regulation, for the making and determination of appeals under this section. It is purely a power on the Minister's part to make regulations governing the process. Deputy Kelleher is being quite vigilant here, as is proper in Parliament, but I reassure him and the House that there is no basis for concern that this could be used in some way by this or any other Minister to spirit in some substantive policy provision, be it in terms of eligibility or otherwise. It could not be done. The fears that might exist are not well-founded. I say that with respect to Deputy Kelleher, who is being absolutely vigilant in this regard. This is purely a repetition of a provision in law that allows the Minister, should he or she deem it fit, to make regulations, but they are regulations governing the procedure and process of an appeal and not any other type.

See this speech in context