Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the Deputy is saying, but there are instances when a Minister needs to introduce regulations quickly, particularly in emergency situations. The status quo as referred to by Deputy Ó Cuív is that those regulations need to be laid before the Oireachtas and can be annulled by it within 21 sitting days, but the Minister can act if he or she needs to do so. I have given a commitment to reappear before committee to get its views and opinions on the regulations linked to this legislation. For me to tie the hands of future Ministers by requiring them to get approval from a committee before introducing a regulation, regardless of the circumstances, would be to compromise them in doing their job. Much of the time we have to introduce regulations in response, for example, to European law. It is often the case that those regulations have to be implemented within a particular timeframe. In some cases, doing so is left to the last minute. That should not be the case.

A Minister should have the flexibility to be able to introduce regulations if it is deemed necessary to do so without having to wait to get approval from the relevant committee. It is right that any new regulation would be laid before the Houses and if the Houses disagreed with it and voted on it accordingly, then it could be annulled. It is a different matter to have to go through what can be quite a prolonged procedure before one makes a regulation. There are certain cases where one would need to make a regulation quickly, particularly in the case of a disease outbreak or some other issue.

I can understand the Deputy's view. As the Minister responsible, I will try to bring as many of the regulations as we are preparing before a committee in order that we can debate them before they are finalised. However, to make that a requirement in the legislation would not be right. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendments.

See this speech in context