John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

It is not proposed to accept the amendment, the effect of which would be that a copy of any policy direction issued by the Minister to the authority under section 13 would have to be laid before each House. This would be a departure from practice and may represent an undue encroachment by the Legislature on the Executive function. On balance, one cannot see how making every policy direction given to a State agency as part of the operational process a matter of political debate would serve the overall interests of effective administration.