Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

No. 3 on today's Order of Business, Second Stage of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004, allows the House to discuss one aspect of the responsibility and accountability of Ministers and civil servants, respectively. Members may have noticed that the Taoiseach decided to seek more information yesterday on the revocation of a particular licence. While few people will disagree with the principle involved, it is important to ensure such decisions are adequately grounded and open to some scrutiny. If they were not, the decision would represent a very arbitrary power.