Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 19:

In page 26, line 44, after "House" to insert the following:"having been discussed by the relevant committee of the House".

The Minister will be aware of my view that a little extra time spent on debating regulations results in better public buy-in and insures as far as possible against the law of unintended consequences. I believe in the importance of the Houses of the Oireachtas and their input. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has demonstrated that with proper engagement by this House the legislative process can seriously improve legislation or regulation. That was my experience as a Minister also.

The resolution of this Government on taking office was that it would engage the House in much more legislative work. Amendments Nos. 19, 26 and 28, therefore, seek to provide that when regulations are being introduced they automatically go before the relevant committee of the Houses for discussion. While currently there is a requirement to lay regulations before the Houses, only a few regulations are discussed by the relevant committees. I believe it would be better if we had a process in this regard similar to that introduced in regard to European laws, which if not of any great consequence can be disposed of quickly. I ask the Minister to give serious consideration to this series of amendments. I am not asking him to do anything that would not go along with the spirit of how he has handled this particular piece of legislation. I wish other Ministers followed his good example in this regard.

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