Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

—notes the Government's intention to introduce draft legislation in relation to Dormant Accounts; — welcomes the proposal to retain:

—the Dormant Accounts Board,

—the Dormant Accounts plan and

—the underlying objectives of the legislation which target persons who are personally, educationally or socially disadvantaged or with a disability;

—notes that key future roles proposed for the Dormant Accounts Board include preparation of future plans, advising annually on priority areas for disbursement and critically assessing the additionally and impact of spend;

—welcomes the proposed improved governance and organisational arrangements which will secure enhanced accountability to the Oireachtas and the Public Accounts Committee;

—notes the commitment to ensure that all expenditure from the fund is additional and will follow a transparent application process with clear published evaluation criteria; and

—notes the commitment to publish lists of all successful programmes and projects.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to the House. I also welcome the discussion on this topic because many red herrings have been raised about it in the last number of days. It is clear from the Opposition's contributions that it is so upset about this issue because there is a lack of validity to its argument. The reality is that the money is still there.