Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 19, to delete lines 42 to 45.

I know the Minister is in a good humour and is accepting all amendments tabled by me. I assume he will respond in the same way to this amendment. We had a good debate on this topic on Committee Stage, as we have had on a number of other occasions. In one such debate, Senator O'Toole in an impassioned plea – far more impassioned than I can be – managed to convince the Minister to accept it.

The existing wording is quite frightening. On Committee Stage I said the words reminded me of Stalinist Russia. The Bill states:

In the performance of his or her duties under this section, the chief executive shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy.

I do not believe such words are used in any Bill now coming through the Oireachtas. The provision is so extreme it is tantamount to a dictatorship of the mind.