Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I must make reference to the speed and the emergency nature of the Bill. The Leader of the House was only informed at 10 p.m. last night that this legislation was to be introduced and we were only informed this morning. This is not an acceptable way to do business. We realise the urgency and will co-operate in every way possible. This is the second time this has happened in a very short period and the House has not been facilitated sufficiently in getting proper notice. This morning a Government Member proposed an amendment to the Order of Business suggesting that we should not deal with this item. However, the amendment was withdrawn at a later stage. This indicates the strength of feeling and I can understand the frustration of Members, including those on the other side of the House.

However, we must deal with the legislation before us. If the Attorney General has advised that this Bill must be dealt with in such an expeditious manner we will go along with it. We are plugging loopholes in Bills at various times. Will it be necessary to return to the question of other State-owned property including that owned by the Health Service Executive and educational authorities to plug other loopholes? We should have an inventory of all State-owned properties to ensure that no loopholes exist allowing people to make profits on which the State is not getting the best return. The Minister stated that the best return for the State must be of paramount importance and those of us on this side of the House agree.

Are we being too restrictive in insisting that IDA Ireland can only let property for industrial purposes? In Waterford we are spending €50,000 per year on private companies to store electronic voting machines, yet there is State property around Waterford lying idle. Putting those voting machines into IDA Ireland property or whatever other State property may be available would represent the best use of Exchequer money. I am sure the same is true in many other parts of the country where sites are designated as education property or IDA Ireland property. If the State has a need it should be in a position to use some of that property. In many instances we have an under-use of State property and we need to make better use of it as the Minister stated.

We cannot condone private individuals making profits at the State's expense, which is what would happen with a preponderance of this type of sub-letting of properties. We will support the Bill and facilitate the Minister. However, we hope the Government will take into consideration our comments regarding expediting such legislation given the short period of time we had to prepare for it.