Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

When an advisory board is appointed to a commission, one does not ask that the advice given to a board should be made public. The advice is given on the basis that this is an advisory council. I have no intention of making such advice public. However, Senators should note that the Government amendment to the original section 29 of the Bill specifically provides that in its annual report the commission must set down what decisions it made following receipt of advice from the council. It will be available in the annual report, but it would be wrong of us to try to muzzle an advisory council. Let them give their advice freely in the knowledge that it does not have to be reported. Otherwise, the best advice may not be available.