Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with every expert. I was making the point to Deputy Donnelly that we have experts on everything available, nationally and internationally.

The changes to the Standing Orders represent a genuine attempt to ensure Bills that come before the Government at heads of Bill stage would move to the committees for that consultation process. We are trying to make that the norm. It will become the norm from January and we want to move to that phase now. For Bills that have not been cleared or published, we hope that becomes the practice for every Minister. Once the heads of a Bill are cleared at Cabinet, they go to committee for consultation.

This Bill was published in July and it is moving through the different Stages. Every time a Bill comes before Cabinet, we expect the Minister at heads stage to propose that it goes to the committee if it wishes to have consultations about it. That will become the normal practice from January in any event. It is for Bills that are not published yet and which will move to that stage as normal practice.

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