Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I note the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may give a direction in writing to the board on the performance by the board or the subsidiary and that he may, by direction in writing, amend or revoke a direction under this section. The Bill then goes on to say in subsection (3) that the Minister shall not give a direction under this section without first obtaining the approval of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Is there a potential conflict there? Under what circumstances would the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government issue a direction that would acquire the approval of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources? Is it because the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources would have an over-arching role as the line Minister responsible for Bord Gáis and the fact this is a subsidiary of Bord Gáis? Is that the sequence of events? It is unusual for a Minister to be unable to give a direction about an area under his mandate without first seeking the approval of a Cabinet colleague.