Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 18:

In page 17, lines 36 and 37, to delete “by such means as the Agency may advise”.

The section provides that the advisory council shall publish the annual report by such means as the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, shall advise. As I recall the debate on the last occasion, there was mention that there might be advice to publish it in the two official languages and other such advice. We got a categoric guarantee that the advice would not include advice on content. Why, therefore, is this section necessary at all? The advisory council's first chairman, Professor John FitzGerald of the ESRI, has been publishing reviews of the economy for the past three or four decades. He does not need this advice. I am afraid the advice might spill over into content and undermine the independence of the agency. It seems almost patronising to tell a body how to publish its report, in particular when its chairman has a strong record of publishing reports. The provision could provide the basis in future times for interfering with content.