Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies McNamara and Healy-Rae for their contributions, logic and rationale in the context of the amendment. I listened to them and we also gave this a lot of thought before the debate. I understand what Deputy McNamara's amendment seeks to achieve, but it concerns something the Bill, as it stands, will allow, as he pointed out, to be done through regulation. It is important the Minister has the capacity to empower the regulator to be able to access information as appropriate, but I believe, as I have made clear from the start, that the best way to do that is through the regulatory powers with which the Bill will provide the Minister. The benefit from that point of view is that those powers can be adjusted over time, if necessary, to ensure they are appropriate to make sure the regulator will be as effective as possible and have the powers and capacity to do its job and fulfil its purpose.

In summary, I understand the merits of the amendment but the Bill, as it stands, will provide for it. It will be covered by regulation and that has been accommodated within the Bill.

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