James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 92, line 33, after "arbitrator" to insert "whose decision shall be binding".

This amendment relates to responsibilities. As I said previously, what is the point of engaging an arbitrator if his or her decision is not binding? It is all about taking responsibility and deciding where the buck stops. We need to make clear in the Bill that the decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. We have seen Ministers fall from time to time because they were blamed for decisions. We have seen Ministers across Europe resigning because the buck stops with them. As the buck stops with the arbitrator, it is important to ensure that his or her decision is final. At the end of the day, we want people to take responsibility for their decisions. There have been several examples of no one taking responsibility. A typical example is what happened in Wexford. A typical example which has been highlighted on the Joe Duffy radio show, the news and elsewhere concerns the Taoiseach's signature on letters of one kind or another.