Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I am delighted to have been in a position to support this Bill. As I stated this was eloquently advocated by my colleagues Proinsias de Rossa MEP and Deputy Michael D. Higgins. Deputy Higgins has focused on this for 30 years and I thank him for giving of his time in the House to this matter. I appreciate that he is a spokesman on other matters and it shows his interests and that he is widely read and deeply committed, as one would expect of a socialist of his standing.

I thank the Minister of State for the way he handled this technical Bill. He was open and receptive to the points made by the Opposition. Sometimes we argue the theological to the Jesuitical with regard to nuances in a Bill and perhaps legal training may be a fault. The Minister of State co-operated with us in full and we are grateful.

The concept of an annual report is important. It returns scrutiny, effectiveness and oversight to Parliament. Rather than having quangos we will debate matters with the Minister of State. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is in the Chamber. He holds a senior portfolio. Secondary legislation should not be the preserve of the Executive. We should be entitled to make inputs. The Minister of State has set something in train which I hope will permeate all aspects of Governments of whatever hue.

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