Derek McDowell (Labour)

I appreciate the thanks that have been proffered to the Labour Party on this Bill. Let me reciprocate by thanking other colleagues for their support. The legislation does not in itself bring about accountability or transparency but it gives us the mechanism whereby it can happen. It requires a commitment from the Government and by every Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas to ensure it becomes a reality.

I hope that in passing this Bill we are also sending out the signal that we are listening. A concern expressed at the time of the first Nice treaty referendum was that the democratic deficit was not being addressed. This legislation is a serious effort on the part of the Houses of the Oireachtas to address it and the message should go out to the public that we are listening to the concerns of people and doing what we can to address them.

Question put and agreed to.