Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand Deirdre Ní Fhloinn, a former colleague of the Chair's, and Orla Hegarty did a lot of the groundwork for Deputy Cowen on that. Along with Eoin Ó Coffaigh and Mel Reynolds, they had also been making this case over and over on the issue of vacancy and dereliction during the previous Oireachtas. There is a certain frustration which I suspect is shared by the Chair that some of the easiest things to do in this area are the things that are not being done.

I will explain the reason I introduced Deputy Cowen's Bill, because once a Bill is passed by the Dáil on Second Stage, it is kind of the property of the Dáil so any Member can recommit it. Far too often some parties propose legislation while they are in opposition and when they get into government, they are very quick to walk away from that. It is a very good thing that the Chair has taken that Bill and has very clearly improved it, so congratulations to him and his team. This is legislation I would genuinely like us to expedite. If there are technical deficiencies in the Bill that Department officials highlight it can introduce a Bill or can take this Bill, amend it and expedite it through. This has been done on a number of occasions with the USI Bills and others, so I really do not mind who does it.

With respect to the first Part of the Bill, as they are new sections they are the additions the Chair is bringing to the table.