Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Section 7 seems to be an all-embracing one which, as I said, gives absolute power to the Taoiseach to establish new bodies. Will the Minister of State inform the House what new bodies would be considered by the office? Given that this office has been up and running for some years, does the Government have an idea as to what other new bodies need to be established? A Member of the other House said this is the quango to beat all quangos given the new overarching body we are putting in place to bring the other three bodies together.

Section 7 gives the Taoiseach considerable power to establish new bodies without coming before either House of the Oireachtas. From my reading of the section, as a layman, section 7 gives the Taoiseach a very all-embracing power. Has the Government ideas on new bodies which will be established? If such bodies are established, why is the approval of either House of the Oireachtas not required before their establishment?