Maurice Hayes (Independent)

Since I raised a few hares, I wish to offer the Minister of State an olive branch at this point. I do not think it is worth imperilling this Bill by getting into the wider questions of the negotiation of terms and conditions for gardaí. It strikes me that if one was seen to import some sort of special condition about not allowing people to retire or about the sickness benefits, the representative bodies North and South would take a poor view of it. It is something that the Minister of State might bear in mind when that is being done. It would be unfair to place a garda, who did the State the great benefit of volunteering to transfer, in a worse position in relation to some of these things than a person who did not.

Amendment agreed to.

Section 6, as amended, agreed to.

Sections 7 to 9, inclusive, agreed to.