Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 26, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

"(3) The Minister shall supply to one or both Houses of the Oireachtas such information regarding the performance of the Commission's functions as may from time to time be required by a Member of either House.".

I am disappointed the Minister of State has not agreed to this amendment. It would make the new commission accountable to Members of the Oireachtas, unlike the existing situation in respect of the Health Service Executive and the National Roads Authority, whereby a Minister can pass the day-to-day operations over to them. Members have seen how Deputies cannot get replies to their Dáil questions and how Senators cannot raise an Adjournment matter in this House, in which their queries are answered by the relevant Minister. Matters are instead passed over to the National Roads Authority or Health Service Executive.

The Minister of State should accept this amendment so that Members of both Houses would have accountability, whether it be through a question tabled in the Dáil or through an Adjournment matter in this House, so that their questions would be answered on the floors of the Houses. This should be done as all Members of both Houses agree that the existing situation in respect of the Health Service Executive and the National Roads Authority is unsatisfactory.