Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I agree a large overlap exists.

I am glad the Government tabled its amendment. It would have been an unfortunate omission to leave the Bill as it was. While I do not wish to blow my own trumpet this is the third time in less than two years I had to point out errors in legislation. The National Economic and Social Development Office Bill had a section prohibiting Members of the Oireachtas from being members of the National Economic and Social Forum. Prior to the summer of 2005 we dealt with the issue of institutional redress. As the legislation was written, people who wished to appeal could not do so themselves.

I wish people would read their amendments and by that I do not mean the Minister of State. Sometimes the errors stand up and hit one, as this one did, the minute one reads it. Although I was poorly prepared that day because I was busy with something else, as soon as I read the amendment on Committee Stage it was obvious either it had malicious intent, which from the moment the Minister of State spoke I knew was not the case, or a mistake had been made. It would have slipped through if we had not delayed Report Stage for a week. I am grateful to the House for delaying it.

I apologise for straying.