Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 10, lines 2 to 4, to delete all words from and including "appoint," in line 2 down to and including line 4 and substitute the following:"appoint.".

I will discuss amendments Nos. 4, 16, 33 and 34 together and they cover two separate issues. They provide that the Minister can make an order under section 6 and a draft of such order must be approved by way of positive resolution from both Houses of the Oireachtas and it must be ensured the appropriate commencement date is provided in the case of each new body that will become subject to freedom of information for the first time either immediately upon enactment or in future.

Amendment No. 16 deals with the issue we discussed on Committee Stage about having a positive resolution of the Oireachtas. This amendment and the first part of amendments Nos. 33 and 34 deal with my proposal that an affirmative resolution of both Houses would be required in respect of any ministerial orders to be made under sections 6 and 7 covering public and prescribed bodies. Deputies MacDonald and Fleming raised this issue on Committee Stage and I am happy to provide for what they intended in the Bill.

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