Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 16, to delete lines 45 to 48 and in page 17, to delete lines 1 to 3 and substitute the following:

"(12) The Minister may, in relation to a draft transport strategy submitted to him or her—

(a) approve the draft,

(b) approve it with modifications,

(c) instruct that it be resubmitted to him or her in a modified form for approval, or

(d) refuse to approve it.

In all cases the Minister shall present the draft transport strategy to a Committee of the Oireachtas for approval.".

One of the main themes of our critique of this legislation at its earlier Stages was to try to ensure the correct mechanisms are in place to deliver accountability of this new body to the Oireachtas. Much time is spent in this Chamber discussing organisations and issues over which the Oireachtas no longer has the control and power which it believes it should have.

The organisation that will be established by this legislation will be especially powerful within the greater Dublin area in terms of its ability to intervene and perform roles previously carried out by other organisations and in terms of its ability to override such organisations. This amendment represents our proposal to strengthen the link between Oireachtas committees, the Members of the Oireachtas and the proposed new organisation. The amendment intends that when the Minister for Transport agrees the proposed draft transport strategy which will guide the new organisation, he or she will submit it to the Oireachtas for consideration so that Members have an opportunity to makes their views known to the Minister.