Maurice Hayes (Independent)

This is a very narrow Bill, and we should concentrate on it. It is clearly the will of the House that the Minister should have his Bill, so we should deal with it as expeditiously as possible. The Minister may have gathered there was a degree of angst in the House that it is being done in this way. The Minister has been prudent, having proceeded with the minimum amount of intrusion. It is the sort of thing that one could not advertise weeks ahead, in case people started establishing rights. I say that more for the House than for him. In future, perhaps at least the leaders of the parties might be told in advance so that things are not sprung on them. That would make life much easier for everyone.

The Minister made one reference to the fact that the Law Reform Commission had picked this up in 1989 and 1992. I wonder whether that stimulated any re-examination by the bodies. Another matter not raised, which is not entirely germane to today's discussions, is the holding of State property and whether it might be better utilised. Property held by all sorts of Departments apart from that of the Minister might be managed more aggressively than at present. The Bill is necessary, and I commend the Minister on his care for the property, restoring the position to how it was intended to be.