Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I have made clear, we are not changing the ownership. The provision relates to an administrative function MARA will be undertaking. To be absolutely clear, ownership is retained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. However, we will look, in section 38, at the potential for setting an additional administrative function to strengthen that aspect. We can commit to doing that if members are agreed that I will come back with it on Report Stage. I hear their concerns in this regard. While I consider the safeguards sufficient, we can have a look at strengthening the provision to state specifically that MARA is just the administrator, not the decision maker. That function is retained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on behalf of the State. However, I will look at the wording with members' comments in mind.