Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The Minister should always acknowledge the work done by his staff and I am delighted to hear him doing so. I acknowledge what must have been an arduous and daunting task for all concerned. We have expressed our reservations and queries concerning the new Department's processes and mechanisms. It is in all our interests that this legislation works and that the new Department delivers significantly. In addition, the consequences of the Minister's policies and work should be felt not just in this House but, critically, on the front line also. The success or failure of this innovation will be judged as people seek to access public services. In the course of our deliberations I said the balance between expenditure and cost control, on the one hand, which are absolutely necessary and legitimate, and public sector reform, on the other, had not been struck in the way it might have been. However, I wish the Minister the very best in his new role. I am delighted that the new Department will be on an official footing and that we can, as they say, get the show on the road.

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