Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I, too, am pleased with the news we have just heard. A clause such as this is a rather blunt instrument. One does not want a chief executive opposing or undermining Government policy in a systematic fashion. On the other hand, there should be a degree of freedom, given the development of an ethos of constructive contribution to the development and evolution of policy in various areas. It may be the case, in certain circumstances, that something has to be said which would be a measured, implied criticism of some aspect of Government policy. In practice a good deal of this probably happens already.