Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Senator will not hear me denigrating the Seanad. I have recently acknowledged both here and in the other House the merits of the Seanad and its discussions. I am the Minister who brings forward at least two thirds of all the legislation passed through the Oireachtas. Perhaps Senator Mullen will impress on some of his colleagues on his side of the House the necessity for a second House. This is a genuine request and I do not say it in a political way.

The Senator argues that our amendment will lead to more disputes or bones of contention than his amendment and that it would be better to be specific. One has to have some general yardstick, which is the number of bedrooms in an apartment. This yardstick is used for a specific reason because it determines not just the size of an apartment although not necessarily, but also the number of people who reside in it. The service charge will be paid on the basis of the number of beds in an apartment. This is probably a better yardstick and I do not think it will change with the passing of this Act. I will discuss the amendment with some of the interested bodies.

Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand," put and declared carried.