Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

We are in a different position because we will be dealing with one authority when the legislation is enacted. The amendment was introduced on Report Stage in the Dáil in response to the amendments that have been reproduced today. I cannot see how Senator Browne's amendments will add anything to the Bill.

There is a technical point that parliamentary questions are not a subject for legislation; they are a matter for the other House in its own Standing Orders but I do not see the advantage of imposing a legal requirement on the executive to provide a Minister with information. Of course, the executive must be directly accountable for its decisions and the Government must obtain that information. Section 79 enables the Minister to make those regulations. Section 10 allows the Minister to issue directions to the executive that can include a direction about information. There is sufficient power in the legislation to deal with the Senator's concerns.