Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Senators can quote me on it. Our work on this Bill is a good example of that type of discussion and governance. We strove towards our common objective of stimulating our economy to create the employment we so badly need. I appreciate the work of Senators and my officials in that regard.

My Department is very small and my officials cover a range of areas. I travelled to London yesterday to meet my counterpart Minister on certain related issues. A bank of ten officials would come in to support the UK Minister on one matter, to be replaced by another ten when our discussion turned to the next item on the agenda. However, the same Irish officials stayed to cover both matters because their briefs were wide ranging. Despite being a small Department, we take on a large legislative programme and I commend my officials on their work. I look forward to taking the Bill to the Dáil for further consideration.

Question put and agreed to.

Sitting suspended at 4.55 p.m. and resumed at 5 p.m.