Derek McDowell (Labour)

I take a similar view to that of Senator Browne. This section, as drafted, gives the Minister more than extra comfort, in essence. He will be given absolute power, in effect, to dictate the way in which the restructuring is due to happen. We need to strike a balance between giving the interim boards a certain measure of discretion in deciding how to set the thing up and allowing the Minister to micro-manage, to use Senator Dooley's phrase. This section of the Bill gives the Minister an extraordinary level of power not only to do things related to the restructuring, but to do anything that might be "in anticipation of" the restructuring. That seems to broaden it out even further, but the amendment before the House seeks to narrow it slightly to issues which are directly related to the restructuring, at least. The section as it is currently drafted will, in effect, allow the Minister to micro-manage everything that happens at the three companies between now and next April and probably beyond that date.