Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

It was. That process continued up to the Christmas period and then for some reason, which I do not understand, this arrangement came out of the woodwork.

The issue of concern is whether we can ensure independence in this process. While the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and the Society of Chartered Surveyors are proposed as registration bodies under the Bill, I remind the House that their roles are separate from those of any other board or committee that would be established under the Bill. I am satisfied that the procedures set out are fair and equitable and provide assurances that the registration system proposed is open and transparent. Moreover, robust appeal mechanisms are provided for, something which has been lost on those lobbying, given that I, like Senator Norris, have received a phenomenal degree of lobbying, at the last minute. I do not understand it.

This undermines the value of the consultation processes which have been ongoing. It also shows scant regard for the procedures and timetables of both Houses of the Oireachtas. I have made a considerable effort to make sure that this Bill goes through. I have bullied and browbeaten to secure time in both Houses to get it through and have dedicated, as have Members on all sides of this House, a fair amount of time on Committee and Report Stages to do so.

In the circumstances, I cannot accept the amendments nor do I believe they are necessary. It is clear that the lobby group that is pressing for changes did not consider they were necessary right up to Christmas. This is the point. I cannot understand what has changed during the past nine weeks. This group was fulsomely involved in the consultation process and saw the draft legislation, which was published in 2005.