Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well in his Ministry. I have no doubt he will make a significant input to it.

I have been involved with this legislation since it was presented as a Bill and have seen it changed time and again. My interest in the issue is not driven by the actual events as much as by the way we are processing the matter. The Government amendment is the most ridiculous I have seen in a long time. Every week in this and the other House we refer matters to committees. It is part of what we do. Instead of having a matter dealt with in plenary session of the Houses it is more efficient to have it dealt with by a committee. We are now acknowledging that the further consideration of the Ombudsman's special report by an Oireachtas committee is a matter for that committee. It may well be, but that is no reason we cannot refer it to a committee.