Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for all of that. As has been said, our function here is to scrutinise statutory instruments, ensure efficient and early transposition and good outcomes for people and, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach said, to bridge a demographic deficit that exists. It is crucial to bridge that democratic deficit, particularly in the context of so many new prevailing political winds. That is all-important and that is our function.

I wish to ask the Minister an off-field question. In the ones that he has cited so truthfully as failures, such as the emissions trading scheme and the electronic communications code, is there a real prospect of financial penalties? If so, at what level and when? Have there been any already? That is a critical question of interest to a lot of people who have been watching us tonight because there is a cost factor in financial terms.

On the draft SIs, the Minister made an interesting point about the difficulty with staffing. In addition, there is the fact that 23 directives are on the assembly line and almost stalled. Can the Minister elaborate on the staffing issues? Can we deal with the issues? Rather than this committee decrying the past we must adopt a futuristic view and start to see how can we improve from now on rather than having too much retrospection, although retrospection informs the present. There is no great variation in what we are all saying. We really want effective implementation. I look forward to the Minister's response.