Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I congratulate the Department, the Minister and the Minister of State on their response to an amendment I tabled. Every time a Bill before the House includes provision to publish information in a local or national newspaper, I table an amendment providing that the information in question also be published by electronic means. I appreciate that such an amendment, which I tabled on Committee Stage, has been accepted and a website link created for precisely the purpose I had hoped before the Bill has even been enacted. I hope I will no longer have to table amendments of this nature and that draft Bills will include provision for the publication of information on websites. I congratulate the Department on publishing the register and permits on the website which, I understand, has been in operation for some time and is working well. It is a reminder of the benefits of debate in the Seanad and its consequences.

I have one indirect criticism. I do not understand the reason it has taken so long to return to this House a Bill passed here in October 2000. If a certain issue is likely to cause delay, we should pass the Bill and, if necessary, introduce an amending Bill.