Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The elected representatives on the commission will make decisions on behalf of the elected Members of the Houses. The decision makers will include Members of the Seanad, the Cathaoirleach and the three ordinary members. The main decisions will be taken by the commission, not the Civil Service backup.

My previous job, in the course of which I crossed paths with Senator Mansergh, involved considerable toing and froing between various groups and agencies, giving interviews and so forth. A high degree of repetition was sometimes required to get one's message across. This has also been the case with regard to the issue before us during the various Stages. In recent weeks, a large number of amendments have been tabled to this legislation and I have found myself reverting to repetitive mode. Unfortunately, I have been compelled to do so again with regard to the fundamental aspects of this issue because they have been ignored.

In our approach to the legislation, we wish to give the commission the greatest possible level of freedom, rather than tying its members' hands in advance. This is the basis on which the special funding arrangements were devised and the reason virtually all the powers currently vested in the Minister for Finance are being transferred to the commission. The general consensus is that this is a positive move. Senator Ryan, for example, stated it should have happened 60 years ago, while Senator Mansergh described it as a giant step forward, both of which are true.

It was consonant with this policy that the shape of the organisation below the chief executive or Secretary General is being left to the commission. It is being given an opportunity to think purposely about how its business should be carried out by its staff. This is also the reason a provision has been introduced to allow commission members to be chosen well ahead of its opening for business next January. In summary, we are not prepared to change our position on this matter, despite the strong arguments made by Senators.