Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill. As one who has served on a local authority for 27 years, I accept that times change and that we must move on. I draw the attention of the Minister of State to the proposed new section 237A which provides that the Minister shall make regulations which will include provisions in relation to the "supply, without charge, of notice, agenda and minutes of local authority meetings" to Members of either House. While the provision is fine, it is does not specify when Members will be supplied with such information. Will they, for example, receive it at the end of the year? The regulations should prescribe when Members receive information, particularly as standing orders would prescribe when local authority members would receive it. Oireachtas Members must receive the same notice as local authority members. Will the Minister of State ensure that this occurs?