Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

On the Order of Business there is a motion of instruction on the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 that the Government tabled. The Minister has tabled 24 pages of amendments on this Bill. They are entirely outside of the original scope of the Bill. There are amendments to five existing pieces of legislation that have nothing whatsoever to do with archaeology or heritage. There has been zero prelegislative scrutiny of these amendments. It seems to be an attempt to bypass the prelegislative scrutiny process. I object strongly to the motion of instruction for these amendments to be taken. These should not be shoehorned into a Bill on archaeology and heritage. They should be brought forward as separate legislation so they can be scrutinised properly.

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