Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have probably covered many of the issues between this contribution and the last. I will, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission, address the various points that have been raised.

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will address Deputy McNamara's points. He stated that the amendments we are discussing right now give the Oireachtas the power to scrutinise the regulations. I fundamentally disagree with that statement. The Oireachtas already has that power. These amendments to the Bill do not give the Oireachtas power to scrutinise what the Government does. The Oireachtas has the power to scrutinise anything the Government does. Not only that, the Oireachtas has the power to annul every single regulation that I sign and that is put before this House. I signed one about half an hour before we started this debate and the Oireachtas can annul that regulation if it likes. It is very important-----

See this speech in context