Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 19, lines 34 to 36, to delete subsection (18) and substitute the following new paragraph:

"(18) The Minister may authorise in writing such officers of the Department as he or she considers necessary to grant authorisations on his or her behalf and to add to or alter authorisation conditions and terms.".

This amendment goes back to the original point about resourcing enough officers to carry out certain instructions on behalf of the Department. In terms of recent high-profile activity, there is a whole issue around who authorises instructions and who carries them out. I am sure the Minister is aware of the high-profile case to which I am alluding, but I do not want to put it on the record of the House. There are anomalies attached to how a writ is issued in regard to an infringement or indiscretion. Should there be better mechanisms in place to ensure best practice when authorisations or instructions are being issued by the Department?