Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I wish to address the last point made by the Minister. Obviously the new authority is a radical departure, but this is not radical law reform because it does not address all of the issues in this area. We must await suggestions from the new authority and then legislation will be required to deal with all of the issues around registration of title, conveyancing and other matters raised by the Law Reform Commission. This Bill is a step forward but it is not radical law reform in itself.

The Minister stated that people who use the services should bear the costs. Surely they should only pay for the cost of the service and not for the cost of reform. If the system is archaic and in need of reform, that is not the fault of the customer, it is the fault of the State for failing to implement reform. I do not think it is right if there is a major cost involved in this reform, which I hope will not be the case, that the customers who use the service should bear that cost. I do not agree with that principle. Customers should pay for the service and if the service is similar to that provided before reforms are implemented, then they should not have to pay substantially more for it. I hope that there will not be a major increase in fees but I am wary of what the Minister said in response to concerns that were raised.

There should be some way of knowing now — by reviewing the assets, outgoings and so on, of the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds — if there is money to provide for the setting up of this new authority and the transfers and reorganisation that are required. I presume that a costing exercise has been carried out as well as an examination of the money available within the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds as they stand. Can the Minister tell the House if the staff are happy with the provision of one member on the authority and if they expressed any opinions in that regard?