Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

——was nominated by the Government as a suitable person to be appointed by the EU as its ambassador to the United States. We must make a distinction between executive and legislative bodies. I agree with the sentiment of section 19 as it relates to the appointment of Ireland's delegates to the Council of Europe. The Dáil should have a role in scrutinising this country's possible delegates to other parliamentary bodies. I welcome this Bill's attempt to seek to create a new space in which the Dáil can be involved in that process.

This is not the first Green Party Bill to have some very good elements. As Deputy Boyle is aware, the Government recently decided to support the Noise Bill 2006, which was proposed by the Green Party. The Government hopes to introduce amendments on Committee Stage to sort out some of the severe problems with that Bill. I hope the Green Party appreciates the Government's open-mindedness in this regard.

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