Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 104, after line 20, to insert the following:

"Review of operation of Act 135. (1) (a)The Minister for Foreign Affairs shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any part of this Act, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.

(b)The Minister for Health shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Part 2 or 3, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(c)The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Parts 4, 5or 15, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(d)The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Part 6, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(e)The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Part 7, carry out a review of those sections.

(f)The Minister for Finance shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Parts 8, 9, 10or 11, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(g)The Minister for Transport shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section in Parts 12or 13, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(h)The Minister for Social Protection shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any section of Part 14, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(i)The Minister for Justice shall, not later than 12 months after the commencement of any section in Parts 16, 17, 18, 19or 20, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(j)The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any sections in Part 21, carry out a review of the operation of those sections

(k)The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, not later than six months after the commencement of any sections in Part 22, carry out a review of the operation of those sections.

(2)The Minister for Foreign Affairs shall, not later than six months after the commencement of the review carried out in accordance with subsection (1)(a), make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of the findings made on the review and of the conclusions drawn from the findings.

(3)The Ministers referred to in paragraphs (b)to (k)of subsection (1)shall, not later than six months after the commencement of the review, make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of the findings made on the review and of the conclusions drawn from the findings.”.

Considerable power is granted to Ministers under this Bill through regulations and orders that can be made under the Bill as well as provisions within the Bill itself. Given the very substantial powers being given, these amendments would require that either at an interval of six months or after a period of 12 months, each Minister would report on the operation of the sections relevant to them. It is very much a review mechanism. We are giving considerable power to Ministers and indeed necessary discretion, given that we do not know all the variables we may face following the withdrawal. Within 12 months we should review how that has worked out.