Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I know and respect that he does not want any excessive money spent in this area, nor do I or any of my colleagues. It is appropriate from time to time to seek expert advice if the expertise is not within the organisation. Unfortunately, we were not given due time to table amendments to this legislation and that is why we opposed the Order of Business this morning. The fact Committee and Report Stages are being taken together does not allow me to table Report Stage amendments. I understand this is not the Minister of State's responsibility.

I would have thought it appropriate to set a limit in section 10, over which it would have to be referred to the Minister. Subsection (3) provides that: "Any remuneration due to a consultant or adviser shall, having regard to guidelines issued from time to time by the Minister or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys at Sport Ireland's disposal." I am assuming those guidelines would pertain to the upper limits of what can be paid. It is very vague and, as we cannot amend it at this stage, I would ask the Minister of State to give it consideration. He has stated that he is opposed to excessive moneys being paid and I do not understand why the Department would not have set a limit over which it must be referred to the Minister. Is that something the Minister of State would consider?