Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

On Committee Stage, I indicated that the definition of specified bodies was being reviewed by the Parliamentary Counsel to address technical concerns. Following this review, I now present amendment No. 5 which ensures that the definition of specified bodies is confined to bodies such as the HSE and the courts, which operate with their own financial Votes where the relevant Minister does not allocate funding. The original definition referred to Accounting Officers, which was appropriate for the purposes of bodies such as the HSE. However, I am advised that the definition is not appropriate in the case of other bodies such as Departments where the Accounting Officer is the Secretary General and where the Minister has responsibility for funds allocation. The proposed amendment takes consultation between my Department, other Departments and the Attorney General into account.