Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State's comments on amendment No. 3. During the Dáil and Seanad debates, Fine Gael speakers advocated a more positive version of what the Minister of State is proposing. We would have preferred the Minister of State to provide that a positive resolution would have to be introduced to keep a statutory instrument alive. He is approaching this matter from a different angle, however, by providing that a statutory instrument will remain in place unless a resolution is introduced to remove it. I accept this amendment is an improvement on the original version of the Bill. It is important to ensure Members of the Oireachtas know when regulations are implemented.

One of the weaknesses of the statutory instrument system is that the public has a limited role in drawing up proposals of this nature. More importantly, most people do not have much knowledge of them. I appreciate that the process of laying regulations before the Houses of the Oireachtas is open and transparent, in theory. Even though we provide for the publication of various matters in Iris Oifigiúil, most constituents are not aware of the regulations which come before the Oireachtas. That most citizens are not monthly subscribers to the official journal places a greater onus on the Members of the Oireachtas, particularly in their capacity as members of joint committees, to ensure the regulations which are enacted are made public. Those who are affected by regulations should be aware of their consequences.

I would be happier if the process of Oireachtas resolution was to be used in a positive manner, rather than in the negative manner about which we are speaking. I welcome this measure because it improves the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for taking on board the concerns and suggestions outlined by my party in previous debates on this legislation.