I move that the Committee agree in part with the Seanad in amendment No. 6. Before Section 31 a new section inserted as follows:—
"31. —(1) The Minister may establish by order a Consultative Council for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to the Minister in connection with any matter in relation to the making of regulations under, or otherwise carrying into execution, the provisions of this Act, or any other matter affecting the preservation and propagation of game or any other matter affecting the game industry.
(2) The said Consultative Council, if and when appointed, shall consist of such persons (being persons having experience or special knowledge in relation to the matters on which the Council may give advice or assistance to the Minister) as the Minister shall from time to time nominate to be members thereof, and shall include representatives of both Houses of the Oireachtas and of the General Council of County Councils.
(3) Each member of the said Consultative Council shall, unless he previously dies or resigns, retain his membership for two years only from the date of his nomination, but shall be eligible for renomination.
(4) The said Consultative Council shall meet whenever summoned by the Minister and also on such occasions as the Council may from time to time determine.
(5) Payments may be made by the Minister out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas to the members of the said Consultative Council and Committeés thereof to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance in respect of repayment of travelling expenses and payment of subsistence allowance."
This is a new section which was inserted in the Seanad. It gives the Minister power to establish, if he thinks it advisable, a Consultative Council. I do not see that it can do any harm to have such a principle included in this Bill, because it may, in working, turn out that the Minister for Justice, whoever he may be, may require expert opinion, but Deputies will notice the provisions of sub-section (5): "payments may be made by the Minister out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas to the members of the said Consultative Council and Committees thereof to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance in respect of repayment of travelling expenses and payment of subsistence allowance." That is a money clause and that has been inserted in the amendment. I would suggest to the Dáil that sub-section (5) should not be accepted by this House, but that the House would accept this new Section 31 with the exception of sub-section (5).
