Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I wish to add to the remarks made. In particular, I single out for mention the officials present and the other officials involved. This is very complex legislation in terms of the way in which it deals with very technical, social, political, financial and cultural matters. I hope we have found the balance. The Minister has listened to all the points of view and fairly met our arguments. He did not concede to all our points but accepted some of them and made amendments and changes. It is important to put as much on the record. That is the way legislation should work and the people should see that some Members put forward honest argument and a viewpoint, a response was then given and a positive movement made in that direction. The passage of the Bill has been classically well-handled by the Minister.

I am not happy with all the points I made but I am pleased that significant progress has been made and I believe the legislation can work in everyone's interests. I hope the people we put in place on the various boards and authorities will take the legislation in the spirit in which it has been put together and that it creates a new vision and creative outlet for the Irish industries to which it is relevant. I thank the Minister for being so accommodating and generous in his responses and I thank his officials.