Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 31:

In page 21, line 8, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

This has arisen in other legislation where the word "may" is used when the intention of the House is to use the word "shall". As drafted, section 14(6)(b) states, “the Minister may, in any year, present to Dáil Éireann an annual sectorial adaptation transition statement”. The term used should be “shall” if the term “may” means discretion. Again, the Minister of State has been impressing on us all afternoon that these are serious duties which are not discretionary. I know the Minister of State wishes to discharge them and I hope all successors will too. However, it should be “shall present to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann an annual sectorial adaptation transition statement”.