Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 15, line 34, to delete “the Minister for Education and Skills” and substitute “any Minister”.

This amendment relates to section 13(2)(f) which reads: "other particulars that the Agency considers appropriate or as the Minister after consulting the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education and Skills may require, and". Again, I do not understand why we need to confine this measure to the named Ministers. I understand the reason for the inclusion of the Minister for Health and can see its direct application. However, we should substitute the words “Education and Skills” with “any Minister”. This would not exclude the Minister for Education and Skills, but it would ensure that, as appropriate and where necessary, the agency could consult other Ministers. I recall instancing a number of portfolios to the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on Committee Stage where the interests of children would reflect on the work of the agency. We should be more open to providing for instances we can second guess and, more importantly, those we cannot even foresee at this time. We should limit the provision to specified Departments. We should not exclude any Department. In changing the reference to the Minister for Education and Skills we would not exclude that Department or ministry but include it and others. I put the case to the Minister. I know the amendment is linked with a later amendment in the same vein.

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