Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Senator O'Sullivan raised an important issue this morning with which I wholeheartedly concur. I wish to ask the Leader pointedly whether this is Government policy. As a conduit between this House and the Government, the Leader must keep Members informed and no doubt he intends to so do. He should answer that question because during my 11 years as a Member, this House has steadfastly stood up to that issue whenever it was encountered. It even impinged on Members of this House and perhaps the other House. It appears to me that this is a policy of the permanent government of the Civil Service. I ask the Leader whether the Government is going along blindly with it. It is completely wrong and constitutes a slight on the people in question.

On the specific point regarding harbour boards, although the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 has been postponed, I understand it contains such a provision. I wish to return to this issue during the debate on that Bill.