Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

As the Senator knows, an enormous amount of work has been done by the interim board. It has just completed the interview process for the chief executive and I hope to be in a position to make that appointment in a matter of days. It will then be up to him or her to recruit staff members, which should happen a few weeks from now. However, if the Senator's question concerns when we will be able to deal with the first cases, I hope it will be in February 2004. I want to consult with the MIAB chairperson, Dorothea Dowling, after the legislation becomes law because we do not want to set an unrealistic commencement date. The intention is to have an end-January or early February commencement date, followed by business a few weeks afterwards.

Question put and agreed to.

SECTION 3.