Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In response to Senator Daly, section 10 enables the Minister to issue a general written direction on any matter of policy and that may relate to the provision of services in a general way in a particular region or locality. I draw the Senator's attention also to section 32 which provides that after approving a service plan the Minister may direct the executive to submit an amended service plan and may specify in the direction the manner in which the plan is to be amended. Those are very specific powers of amendment vested in the Minister which is not qualified by the word "general".