Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I have no wish to micro-manage this or any other issue. I assure the Senator that the sooner I can get it done and dusted the better, so the boards can get on with their jobs. The amendment before the House proposes to remove the Minister's power to give a direction "in anticipation of" the restructuring. Section 7(6) is important because it adds some flexibility to a complex restructuring process. The Minister will have the power to give directions to ensure that the restructuring is completed, in line with the wishes of the Houses. My legal advisers have suggested to me that we should have the power to give directions in anticipation of the restructuring. The restructuring is not a one-off event that will take place at noon on a certain date — it is an ongoing thing. There is a great deal of legal argument about when restructuring starts and finishes, or when one is in the middle of restructuring. The legal advice given to me is that if I can give directions not only about restructuring, but in anticipation of restructuring, I will have the flexibility required. I did not dream it up myself — it was suggested to me in particular legal advice and I accepted it.