Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment to the Cabinet and wish him the best in his endeavours over the next four or five years. He will be undertaking a crucial role and he can expect my side of the House's support in most of what he will endeavour to do. Setting out a separate ministerial structure as the Bill does is important if we are to focus on public sector reform and modernisation and driving Exchequer savings.

The Minister was probably slightly delayed in attending the Chamber because of our votes this morning. It is not an indication that my party opposes the Bill, as we do not, but we have grave reservations about the manner in which it is being introduced in the House. It is important that the Minister be aware of this. Last week, the schedule listed a reasonable gap between Second Stage on Wednesday and Committee and Remaining Stages on Thursday. In the Minister's opening remarks, he mentioned the date of the Department's establishment as being 5 July, not 1 July. While that is welcome, I am concerned by the haste with which the Bill has been introduced in the House and the fact that our schedule has undergone four changes, either at the request of the Minister or his new Department, to facilitate its being dealt with in one day.

My party colleagues have tabled some reasonable amendments. Subject to hearing the Minister's contribution, we reserve the right to submit further amendments post Second Stage. The usual procedure is for a Second Stage debate, following which Members of all parties are allowed time to consider the Minister's contribution and to table amendments as they see fit. When one can only do this between 1.30 p.m. when Second Stage concludes and 2.30 p.m. when Committee and Remaining Stages are taken, to be concluded at 5 p.m., it is far from ideal. Why is there a mad rush in this House in particular if the date of the Ministry's establishment on a firm statutory footing is 5 July? Why does the Dáil's Order of Business for tomorrow, as published by the Government, state that the Lower House will deal with amendments from the Seanad when the Seanad has not even voted on anything yet? The Minister cannot know whether we will pass any amendment. The Government enjoys a sizable majority in the Seanad, albeit not as large a one as it enjoys in the Lower House. Many of us take our roles seriously, but the way in which today's business has been scheduled and the listing of a discussion of Seanad amendments in the Dáil tomorrow are retrograde steps. Perhaps the Government has people who use crystal balls. I hope it does, given how we could do with a great deal of foresight where the Minister's role is concerned.

I have got this matter off my chest. We support the Bill in principle, but we have been left in a difficult situation, in that many of my colleagues are annoyed by the way in which it is being handled. Members of the Lower House can speak for themselves, but we cannot guarantee the Bill's smooth passage through this House. However, we support the Bill and the crucial work the Minister will need to do.

Section 15 deals with the transfer of assets and the Minister's oversight of any sale of assets valued at more than €50 million. Many parties have discussed the issue of strategic-----