Mr. William Beausang:

The same issue has arisen in things like the freedom of information regime. There is scope for the Minister to bring anyone in under the freedom of information regime. Part of our work involves examining what criteria might guide that decision-making. In the fullness of time, that same issue will need to be considered as we look at the definition in the legislation which allows the Minister, as Ms O'Connor has mentioned, to make an order bringing other bodies within the ambit of this legislation as is consistent with the principles of transparency and accountability. That is a job of work down the road when the legislation is in place. We will need to assess, as Deputy Fleming said, where is the proper or appropriate boundary between the public sector broadly defined and bodies which would not regard themselves as part of the public sector but benefit significantly from Exchequer funding and whether, in those circumstances, they should be subject to the ethical requirements proposed in this Bill, many of which are currently in force for public officials and elected representatives.