Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The ingenious idea is to take on the awful responsibility that is Government borrowing. The Minister carefully outlined what the SPV is and can do. In conjunction with the SPV, what role does he see for the Office of Public Works, OPW? I have searched through the Bill. Why is the most important property agency being excluded from it? Will the Minister consider an amendment to include the OPW which provides suitable accommodation for Government services, manages and maintains the State property portfolio, has the largest architectural process and has expertise in the valuation and development of properties? When the Minister concludes, perhaps he will show the reference to the OPW in the Bill. It is managed by commissioners under the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh. Why should we establish new agencies to carry out the assessment and completion of some of these projects?