Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their deliberations on this legislation. I assure them it is awaited with bated breath in the other House. Hardly an Order of Business goes by without it being raised, to the frustration of the Taoiseach who has to reply that he does not have any say in the progress of Bills through the Seanad. I compliment Senators and the various associations who have made representations on this difficult legislation. This has not been an easy Bill to prepare. When I was drafting this Bill with the Minister, Deputy Gormley, and the Tánaiste, when she was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, it was ultimately decided that I would bring it through the Oireachtas. It has implications for a number of other Departments, especially the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. We have encountered a number of issues that are pertinent to that Department, such as completion certificates. I thank the officials in my Department and the other Departments who have helped to bring us to this point. When I go to my parliamentary party meeting, the first thing I will say to the Taoiseach is that this Bill has been passed by the Seanad at long last. I do not suggest that it was delayed by this House because that is not the case. There seemed to be a great insistence in the other House that it be rushed through this House. There has been a bit of a misunderstanding of the complexity of this legislation. I thank Senators for the work they have done on it.