Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 15:

In page 13, subsection (1), line 29, after "functions" to insert ", but shall hold at least one meeting in each quarter of a year".

This is modelled on a similar provision in the Digital Hub Development Agency Bill. My earlier points about consistency apply again. This would add a minimum to what is otherwise an entirely vacuous enabling clause and deliver a hint to the authority of what we shall expect from it. This is a necessary provision given the structure of committees, subsidiaries and delegation of powers envisaged in the Bill. If the full powers of the Bill were invoked, it would be possible to delegate all the work to other bodies, subsidiaries and committees and turn the authority into an empty dummy. I know this is not the intention, but the amendment seeks to safeguard against this. Its acceptance would go some way towards reminding people that we do not want them to do this.

This is the very least that should be done – I would be surprised if there were not ten or 11 meetings per year. Including a stipulation such as this would strengthen the authority.