Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 55, subsection (1), line 5, after "may" to insert "initiate and shall on request by an interested person in writing".

This section is designed to allow the Ard Chláraitheoir to initiate inquiries. The amendment suggests inclusion of the words — they may not be necessary but I would be interested to hear the Minister's reply — "initiate and shall on request by an interested person in writing". Section 65(1) states that the Ard Chláraitheoir "may conduct or cause to be conducted such enquiries as he or she considers necessary to ascertain ..." Would it not be easier to include after the word "may" the phrase "initiate and shall on request by an interested person in writing"? In other words, instead of the Ard–Chláraitheoir doing it willy nilly, an interested party could write to him or her and ask that it be done and a decision could then be taken. Perhaps it is already provided for but I believe the version I have outlined would give people the power to make submissions to the office on the basis of whatever reason they wished to offer. The officer holder could then decide whether to investigate.