Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

I welcome what the Minister said in respect of local authority staff and I accept that he has made moves on certain matters. This is the first occasion on which I have heard him state that it will primarily be local authority staff who will carry out the inspections. I also welcome the fact that local authorities may not be obliged to look outside their existing staff complement in this regard.

As the Minister stated, he will not always occupy the office in which he currently finds himself. Things can change overnight. Once a matter is contemplated in primary legislation, a Minister or a Government can make changes in respect of it.

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