Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 50:

In page 71, to delete lines 5 and 6.

This suite of amendments seeks the deletion of the provision in multiple sections of the Bill that prevents certain public representatives from questioning or expressing an opinion on Government policy or the objectives of such policy. This provision usually arises in circumstances where the public representative is called to appear before an Oireachtas committee. It is our view that this is an incredibly restrictive provision that prevents Oireachtas joint committees from engaging in meaningful scrutiny with certain public representatives on matters of relevance and importance. There have been a number of occasions over the past year on which public representatives with significant experience of and expertise in a given subject have had to refuse invitations to appear before Oireachtas committees on relevant matters. While their perspectives would have illuminated our discussions or prelegislative scrutiny, they were prevented from contributing to the process by similar provisions in other Acts. It is our view that these provisions are unjustifiably restrictive and have the impact of gagging public representatives. We should instead be empowering our public representatives to express their views so that they can contribute positively to the development of policy, practice and legislation.

The amendment seeks the deletion of such a provision as it relates to the appearance of the Garda Commissioner before the Committee of Public Accounts. The amendment also seeks the deletion of the provision as it relates to the appearance of the Garda Commissioner before the Oireachtas joint committee. Amendment No. 66 in this grouping seeks to delete the same provision as it relates to the appearance of the director of the national office for public safety before Oireachtas joint committees. Amendment No. 106 seeks the deletion of the same provision as it relates to the appearance of the chief executive of the Policing Authority before the Committee of Public Accounts. Amendment No. 107 seeks the deletion of the same provision as it relates to the appearance of the chief executive of the Policing Authority before other Oireachtas joint committees. This is a particularly important deletion given the need for the Policing Authority to be independent of both An Garda Síochána and Government for it to be effective in its function. Amendment No. 126 seeks the deletion of the same provision as it relates to the appearance of the CEO of the police ombudsman before the Committee of Public Accounts. Amendment No. 127 also seeks the deletion of the same provision as it relates to the appearance of the CEO of the police ombudsman before other Oireachtas committees.