Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I support amendments Nos. 42 and 44 but I am not sure about the three-month stipulation proposed by Senator Cummins. The joint policing committees cannot be established unless guidelines are issued by the Minister. The mandatory "shall" is preferable to the discretionary "may" and I hope the Minister will examine the wording.

Amendment No. 44 relates to the guidelines. Hopefully, there will be a positive reaction to amendment No. 45 later but the use of the word "shall", which is proposed in amendment No. 44, is also more desirable. If the provision remains discretionary, anything that is agreed under amendment No. 45 can be changed subsequently by ministerial order. A great deal of work has gone into the Bill and the joint policing committees are one of its strengths. They could transform public support for the Garda and the flow of information to the force. I will give examples when we discuss amendment No. 45. I ask the Minister of State to look sympathetically on amendments Nos. 42 and 44.