John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 5, subsection (3), line 17, after "Agency" to insert "and the Minister, after issuing such guidelines, shall present them to the Oireachtas or the appropriate committee of the Oireachtas and provide 21 days during which time the guidelines could be amended or revoked by the Minister or by a motion in either House of the Oireachtas".

Last week, when debating the National Tourism Development Authority Bill, I tabled a similar amendment. The Minister would be allowed to issue an instruction to the new authority but it would be discussed by the appropriate committee of the Oireachtas before any final decision is made. Openness and transparency were mentioned earlier. In this age of transparency it would fitting for the Minister of State to accept the spirit of the amendment because there is merit in allowing the Houses to discuss and see directions the Minister might give to the new agency.