Brendan Ryan (Labour)

The section provides that "The Minister may, by order (a) confer on the Society such additional functions, connected with those which it has, (b) make such provision ...". There is no suggestion of consultation with the public or with the society. Perhaps I missed such a provision but as the section stands it provides that the Minister may by order confer additional functions. Much of this legislation is about transparency and providing for major improvement in that respect. Given that the attitude of the profession has been positive about the need for transparency, it seems extraordinary there would not be some process of consultation with the society and with the public in this regard.