Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to comment on this because I accept entirely the position of Senator Higgins and understand her concern. Obviously, a regulation could be made out of term but I do not think it would be usual for a "sitting day" provision to be put into legislation. This provision exists in lots of legislation and there has not been a problem with it to date. Perhaps the matter could be resolved by an undertaking or an indication from the Minister of State that there is no desire to try to circumvent this provision or that no controversial regulation would be laid at a time when either House is unavailable to sit.

On the notification to Members of such regulations, very often it is assumed that we are looking at the documents laid every day, that we are in the Oireachtas Library every day reading every document that comes in but of course, that is not the case. It would be beneficial if a notification of some kind was sent to Members, either through the Houses of the Oireachtas or the Minister's office, to let them know that a particular regulation has been signed into law. Then Members could consider whether they need to take action under section 3.