Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the comments from the colleagues behind me and from Deputy Eamon Ryan in respect of the issues they raised. It is fair to say there is a certain amount of artificiality about what we are now proceeding to do. We are going to deal with amendments in respect of an item of legislation when we do not really know what the core commission will be constituted of. We are heading down a dangerous path.

There appear to be three options. There is the option put forward by Deputy McGuinness that the Bill be withdrawn. I understand the Minister has rejected that but perhaps he should reconsider it. The second option is that we go down the route outlined at the outset by the Ceann Comhairle. The third option is one we have not yet considered. It was the case that, yesterday, one of the amendments put forward by Deputy Wallace, amendment No. 7a, was tabled as a late amendment. Is it not possible that we could rise now and come back at a later time, when the Minister could bring froward further amendments which we would consider at that later stage? I ask the Minister to consider this.

I want to acknowledge the point the Minister made when he indicated the cost of the commission will not be €1 million, as identified in the explanatory memorandum, but will be reduced to €500,000 per annum. I want to commend the justice committee because, as a result of its work, according to the Minster, it has managed to reduce the running costs of this quango by 50% through its amendments. That needs to be recognised.

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