Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and compliment the Tánaiste and her staff for the work they put into this Bill. The Tánaiste was interviewed on television six weeks ago and was asked when the Bill would become law. She indicated that it would be enacted before Christmas and I considered that to be wishful thinking at the time, but I was wrong.

This Bill will mean that young people from rural areas who are lucky enough to have a job, but cannot get to work and have to leave home to live in flats and apartments, will be able to get cheaper insurance and travel home to their parents every night. Small businessmen who employ four or five people had their backs to the wall trying to pay public liability insurance and employers' liability insurance in the last three years and this Bill will help them.

I wish the PIAB well. I know Dorothea Dowling will do a good job as chairperson of the board and I congratulate Senator O'Toole on his appointment to the board.