John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

This has been complex legislation. We are trying to regulate a system that has been around for a long time and obviously are trying to maintain confidence in the charity sector, with transparency and so forth, without adding undue burden. It is in that context that we realised at an early stage there would be a requirement for a mandatory review in five years' time. It has proven to be very complex. As far as possible we have taken on board as many of the recommendations as we could, from all sides.

I thank my predecessors, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern and Chief Whip, Deputy Pat Carey, for bringing this long awaited legislation before the House in the first instance. Just mentioning two predecessors and myself in this regard will give an idea of the complexity of the legislation. I also specifically thank Members of the House for their contributions to the debates. Although we have to return to the Seanad for one brief technical amendment, I particularly thank Deputies Ring and Wall for their personal interest in the legislation and for their contributions to the stages that I have led in the House. They have been very constructive and helpful and the Bill reflects a genuine effort at co-operation from all sides.

I am sure Deputy Ring will join me — and Deputy Wall would if he had not left the Chamber already — in thanking the officials of my Department, in particular Mr. Joe Hamill and Mr. Terry Dunne. I do not know whether one is supposed to mention the names of officials in the House, but anyway, I want to say it. Apart from assisting me, they made themselves available to Members on the other side of the House and engaged with the sector as well. In other words, we were bringing forward informed proposals, trying to reflect what the sector wanted and how we could manage it in that regard. They were very hands-on and proactive and I would specifically like to thank them here and have their work recognised.

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