Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The text, as drafted in the Bill, provides the Minister with powers to establish committees to assist and advise him or her on the performance of his or her functions under the relevant statutory provisions. On Committee Stage in the Dáil, I introduced my own amendment to create section 8(5), which aims to ensure that the composition of committees includes members with the relevant expertise having due regard to social, economic and environmental interests, where appropriate. In addition, the Minister must have the power to establish and dissolve committees quickly when their work is completed.

Committees will only be established for good reason and their composition will reflect the relevant expertise required to carry out the relevant work. To provide on a statutory footing a requirement to consult the relevant Oireachtas committee before any committee is established would be unwieldy given the safeguards already in place. However, I assure Senators that I am at all times available to meet Members of this House to discuss issues relating to my brief. That is where I want to keep it and I therefore do not propose to accept this amendment.