Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Members are being asked to believe it is a stand-alone authority. I revert to a point I have made in the House previously, namely, that body was created to shield the Minister for Health and Children of the day from criticism and this is not good enough. Moreover, it is not good enough to announce such plans on the airwaves without any consultation with the trade union movement. This is a disgrace.

I raised a point in this House approximately two weeks ago regarding the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and contracts it was offering in respect of ferry transport services from offshore islands to the mainland. I raised the issue regarding west Cork in particular, where the European TUPE regulations on the transfer of undertakings to guarantee workers' rights and protect their standards were removed from one such contract. However, the Northern Ireland Administration offered a contract in respect of the Rathlin Island ferry in which the same clause was inserted. Has the Leader given consideration to my request to allow Members time to debate this issue with the Minister in respect of ferry contracts?

I support Senator Brendan Ryan's point. While I do not believe the Leader intends any malice in this regard, it is neither good enough nor practical to take Committee and Report Stages within a 24-hour period when the deadline for amendments after Committee Stage is 12 noon and Members still do not have access to an electronic version of the amended Bill to deal with. This is creating all kinds of nightmares for staff, both in the Bills Office and in political parties, who have to deal with such a short timeframe. I am sure the Leader will consider this matter.