Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. As legislation passes through the House it is important that the Government receives co-operation across the political divide on an issue such as this. Mr. Gay Byrne was interviewed by his successor on the "Late Late Show" on Friday night and the show was repeated last night; perhaps the Minister of State watched it. I would strongly disagree that he was an inspired choice to lead this authority. It was a public relations stunt on the part of the Minister to appoint someone whose record of arrogance we well appreciate from his pronouncements on "the box" on numerous occasions and from his failure to accept criticism at any time of himself or his views. He made a statement the other night that a raft of legislation must be introduced before the summer recess, of which this Bill is part. I am not too sure if he has read all the promises made since 1998 on legislation which have all been broken. He said he would walk within one year so I ask him to look at the 15 promises made, almost all of which have been reneged on or which have not been followed through.

I would also like an apology from Mr. Byrne who said, in respect of legislation being brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas, that he hoped the other crowd would not make a political football out of it. That is a dismissive statement and is arrogance beyond belief. For the success of his chairmanship, he should withdraw that statement and apologise to Members of both Houses who may have an opinion to offer other than his own or who may wish to contribute in some way to the legislation before the Houses.