Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 14:

In page 5, line 3, after "shall" to insert "either".

The presentation of the wording that "The Foundation shall comply with any direction referred in subsection (3)." is stark in the Bill. If a decentralisation policy or some other policy was put forward we could not say that would not happen under this Minister because he comes to the House, discusses ideas and we have an interesting debate. Does the wording as it stands give the Minister too much power to order a science foundation around? The wording that "The foundation shall comply with any direction", is stark. The Minister could say that he wants the foundation to give the entire funds to Professor Bloggs in XYZ university. Does the Minister of State consider the wording to be draconian? It was on that basis I tabled the amendment. We had that before and ministerial directions led to many strange results in many fields. The wording is very strong. It almost assumes that the people in the foundation would not know much and that the Minister would have to direct them to do things. I will leave it at that for the Minister's consideration. That was the point I had in mind.