Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, to the House for this debate. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill is one of the most welcome items of legislation to come before the House for many a day. Decoupling is very much the in-word. I welcome the decoupling of the role of the Minister for Finance in regard to the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I also welcome the intention to set up the new commission which is almost totally autonomous in respect to its functions, staff and services.