Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I too congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his election today. I welcome this technical and uncontentious Bill which provides for a fair deal for artists and owners of intellectual property and so encourages creativity and invention. I agree with those speakers today who have paid tribute to the role of public libraries. The state-of-the-art library in Malahide, however, cannot be opened because of a Government embargo on recruitment. The people in Malahide and Portmarnock will be looking in the windows of their library for the next few weeks to see what a wonderful facility it is.

While this is not the responsibility of the Minister of State who is present today, I ask him to report to the Government that such embargoes on recruitment cannot be applied across the board. This makes absolutely no economic sense and I ask him to take back from this House the message that this is not acceptable.