Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I would hate to think our Minister of State is not accountable, which seems to be the implication of what has been said. It appears to imply that statutory instruments give the power, as opposed to the introduction of secondary legislation, which would give the power to the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of implementing any EC law. I would hate it if the Minister of State were unable to overcome that problem and if he were to say that it gave him such power that he was no longer accountable. That is not what this section is about. I am reading it and am glad the Minister of State has written it down to clarify the position. I think he knows exactly what he is doing by making his statement. It is too loose otherwise. He could not possibly make a statement in the House which could be interpreted as his saying that he is not accountable, that any EC regulations introduced are not transparent and that he has the power to ride roughshod over everybody. I could not stand over that and I have no doubt that this is not the Minister of State's intention, but I will let him speak for himself.