Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I am not suggesting that would be the case. Let us look at the appointments made by the Minister since taking office. Since the end of October, the Minister has appointed six people to Arbour Hill, three from Dublin and three from other regions. That is a 50% representation from the Dublin region. That, in my opinion, is a fair proportion. Great play was also made of the €600,000 expended in the first ten months of 2002. There are currently 200 people on visiting committees. If we take the €600,000 figure over 12 months, that works out at €3,300 per person. Some people are not claiming but most of them are. A sum of €3,300 per annum is not a massive amount to pay those who drive from all areas of the country using their own petrol and car having taken a day's leave from work and, perhaps, losing a day's pay. I am surprised, given those payments, that so many people put themselves forward for positions on such committees.