Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps this was already discussed, but I was not here during the last debate. Regarding section 9, the Labour Party put forward an amendment in the Dáil when Fianna Fáil was in government in 2010. That amendment proposed the introduction of a new subsection 3A, stating that, "A reviewable agency shall comply with a recommendation of the Ombudsman". There has been a change in Labour Party policy since the last Oireachtas and I am merely highlighting this fact. I have not put forward amendments to this Bill because it was steered through the Dáil by a Fianna Fáil Minister in the last Oireachtas. We were blamed last week for the Valuation Bill that was only in preparation when we were in government and which none of us knew anything about. However, many of us were here when this Bill was passed in the Dáil originally. The Labour Party had a position then which seems to have changed now. It is worth highlighting that and pointing it out. It begs the question as to why items are put forward that have no reality to them.