Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

That avenue is opened, for the reasons I outlined, in section 8 of the Bill, which enables the Minister to provide by regulation for the furnishing of information by the authority directly to Deputies and Senators. The Minister will get additional powers in that respect. The issue of whether the Minister will have to answer the questions he or she is asked will be a matter for the Chair, as it has always been. The Minister will have the power to compel the authority to provide whatever information he or she wants. All of that is provided for in this legislation. The essentials of accountability in the Houses of the Oireachtas are fully protected in the Bill as it stands. The amendments before the House will not add to the legislation.