Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This proposed amendment provides for the Minister to give guidance to the expert advisory council in relation to the exercise of its functions, excluding guidance as to the content of any advice or report.

I am somewhat surprised by the amendment, as it appears genuinely to weaken the independence of the expert advisory council. That is something many Deputies spoke about in terms of previous amendments when they expressed concern about the council's independence. The amendment requires the expert advisory council to have regard to any guidance given to it by the Minister. It is confusing and does not make sense in that regard and, accordingly, I cannot support the amendment.

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