Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 5, line 40, after "Oireachtas", to insert "within 1 month of receipt".

We propose in this amendment to impose a timeframe as to when the Minister must bring a report from the commission before the Houses of the Oireachtas. As currently drafted, section 10 states that the Minister shall, after consultation with the Government, bring such a report to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Our amendment proposes that that report would be given to the Houses of the Oireachtas within one month of receipt by the Government.

It is important that where a report, which might be embarrassing either for political parties or Governments, comes into the possession of the Government, that information would be put on the public record and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas within one month. We have seen examples in Northern Ireland in particular where reports have laid on desks unpublished to ensure that the political situation was not made more difficult. I appreciate that but we are attempting to put a timeframe around this. That would be a useful way of ensuring that the Houses of the Oireachtas get this information as soon as possible. We suggest the one month timeframe is not unduly restrictive.