Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 15, to delete lines 35 to 37, and in page 16, to delete lines 1 to 9 and substitute the following:"21.(1) A local authority chief executive—

(a) shall at the end of the period of 3 years beginning on the company transfer day of a company to the local authority of which he or she is its chief executive, and

(b) may at the end of each subsequent period of 5 years beginning on the expiration of the last previous period, appoint a suitably qualified person to carry out an examination as to the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the performance by the transferred company of its functions and to report in writing to the local authority chief executive of the results of the examination.

(2) Any examination and report referred to in subsection (1)shall be completed by the person appointed under that subsection within the period of 4 months from the date of his or her appointment.".

This amendment arises from a number of discussions we had on Committee Stage. The principle on which I want to follow up is that following a transfer and after a suitable period of time, a stock-take and an assessment should be carried out to look at the performance of the transferred company. I accept that this is a valid point and I am bringing forward my own amendment to deal with it. I am seeking to have the section amended to require a performance review of a transferred company three years after the date of transfer. Of course, a further review could take place after that, but that would be the decision of the local authority. I am saying the Bill should require a financial review of a transferred company to be carried out after a reasonable period of time has elapsed after the transfer of the company.

I am also seeking to have two other changes made. I am seeking to have extended the period between statutory reviews from three years to five and to have shortened the maximum time period to complete a review from six months to four because I believe the work should be carried out within that time period.

Both amendments seem sensible, given the size of the companies in question. I am responding to some of the points made by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett, in particular, on Committee Stage.

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