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

That is not what I was proposing. I am certainly not trying to straitjacket people into doing other than what they need to do. The annual report is meant to reflect on the work done in the preceding year. I anticipate that, in the course of any year, the agency will find itself engaging with a number of ministries, including the Departments of Social Protection, Justice and Equality and any number of others. My own sense is that it is particularly prescriptive. Make no mistake about it, the entirety of the National Educational Welfare Board is moving within the remit of the new agency, which is why I said I understood the reference to the Department of Health.

The issues that arise are not only those related to public health nurses which the Minister highlighted but also other issues, as yet unresolved, pertaining to some other disciplines under the aegis of that Department. The Minister is of the view that the current wording does not impose a straitjacket or limit the agency to consulting only the two Ministries in question. I have tabled the amendment because I believe it may do so. My proposal is eminently sensible.

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