Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I hoped to respond to the various issues raised by Deputies but have run out of time. Bord Glas was founded in 1990. Opposition parties said then we were creating a quango which would make no contribution to the country. Bord Bia was founded in 1994. A review of both organisations carried out in 1998 recommended the two organisations should be amalgamated in five years' time. The five years ended on 31 December 2003. For the Estimates of 2003, the three wise men looked at all State agencies, examined the review and recommended that the amalgamation proceed. This legislation is a result of those recommendations.

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