Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

——and that is precisely what the Bill proposes.

The previous Government was the first to establish a committee on social inclusion. Prior to that one had to go from Billy to Jack, from one Department to another, to get a hearing. Now one can go directly to the Minister and present one's case. As Senator O'Toole observed, our job is to make representations on behalf of people and we must work with the system that is in place. The proposed legislation strengthens that system.

The community and voluntary sector is very political and each group protects its own little patch. It is necessary that somebody should decide how each of these groups is put in order of need. That is what the fund does and the funds are equitably distributed on the basis of that need. This is in addition to what is already available from the various funds providing facilities around the country.

The legislation, on which I congratulate the Minister of State and his Department, is welcome. I look forward to it passing through the House.