Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 4, lines 37 and 38, to delete "the recommendation of the Government." and substitute the following:

"(a) the nomination of the Government, and

(b) the passage of resolutions by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending the appointment.".

We had a discussion on this amendment on Committee Stage during which I pointed out that the ombudsman, who is nominated by the Government, should go through a legal procedure in which both Houses of the Oireachtas would pass a resolution to appoint him or her. This is related to an earlier suggestion I made for a standardised form of ombudsmen throughout the country. It would be useful for the House to be enabled to make such a resolution in order that it could at least debate the appointment. The amendment is not casting aspersions on the Government or implying it would appoint someone who is not up to the job. All it is suggesting is that the mere fact that the Government nominates the ombudsman should be recognised in both Houses by a positive resolution. Let us not forget that the Government's nomination must be signed off by the President.

The Leader of the House is aware of a recommendation made in our report on Seanad reform concerning the scrutiny, rather than the vetting, of high-profile public officials. There is merit in the proposal that the House should, at the very least, pass a resolution recommending the appointee. I am interested in hearing the Minister of State's reply in this regard. Will he put on record the date on which the legislation will come into effect after it is signed by the Uachtarán?