Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today we are having pre-legislative scrutiny of the heads of a Bill, a new process for us all, rather than debating the legislation on Committee Stage. The process should facilitate a quicker, smoother and less confrontational passage of Bills through both Houses, and points raised here can feed into the publication of the Bill for Second Stage. For the process to be successful, we need a certain amount of goodwill. Obviously not everyone will be happy with the process, but at least solid arguments will be listened to and perhaps addressed before the Bill is finally published.

I call Mr. Weld and Mr. Caldwell to respond to the various questions. Deputy Ó Cuív asked the first question, which relates to both organisations. He wondered if there was a reason for preventing the membership from increasing from 12 to 15. The size of the board is a fundamental point that is related to many of the other issues. Betting tax was the other matter raised by both presentations. Is it all about money and funding the organisation? This is a question that links up with the points made by Deputy Lawlor.