Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

While I am sympathetic to the concerns regarding accountability outlined by the Senator, I am reluctant to provide for the provision of information to the Minister for the specific purpose of answering parliamentary questions. Section 16 already provides that the authority shall give the Minister such information regarding its performance as the Minister may require and I am satisfied that is sufficient. Moreover, it would not be appropriate for the Minister to be answerable before the House for independent decisions of the authority. I refer, for example, to decisions taken by the authority to grant or renew a licence.

The Bill establishes an independent appeals board, to which the authority's decisions may be appealed. An appeal to the High Court on a point of law is also foreseen in section 40.