Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who was here yesterday and gave a very good account of himself which was very much in keeping with the principle of the Bill. I compliment the Minister on bringing area committees into being. It is a most innovative idea. I note what the Minister said, that he wants to make them work well and he referred to his own area in that regard. I have great confidence in this proposed development.

Yesterday, I made the point in regard to the section that Members of the Seanad should be included, in addition to Members of the Dáil or that a generic reference should be made to Oireachtas Members. It could be said that Senators have constituencies. In the areas in which Senators live it would be useful to have their input as well. Involvement at local level is of great assistance to us at national level when it comes to discussing issues of security and the Garda Síochána. I reiterate my request to the Minister that this would become a reality.

I am delighted the Minister tabled amendment No. 46 and I compliment him on his approach. I have experience of being before the House as a Minister of State with responsibility for trade and I welcome the fact that the Minister is open to the merits of Opposition amendments, which helps to strengthen legislation. I welcome the proposed deletion of the reference to county development boards as it would have been a restrictive approach which would not have given local authority representatives the opportunity of serving on the policing committees. Elected local authority members should have a pre-eminent position in regard to the new policing committees. I thank the Minister for including them and doing such a good job in putting forward the idea in the Bill.