John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 46, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following new paragraph:

"(e) comparisons against best practice in other comparable countries in relation to the cost of financial services and the range and quality of services offered.".

This subsection deals with the annual report of the authority, which the Minister referred to earlier. Such a report is an important document for any authority. The amendment seeks to impose a requirement that the annual report contain a comparison with similar sectors in other countries. I have spoken about the McDowell report, which included a comparison with other European countries and we discussed how the report appeared to contradict itself in that way. It would be appropriate in the early years of an authority to have a comparison built into the annual report to judge how it is faring in relation to similar authorities in other countries.