Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for bringing this Bill forward in the House. I also wish to record my appreciation of the work done by the members of the outgoing dormant accounts board. They have done the State some service. There has been criticism of people who sit on boards and, perhaps correctly, of people who make a career of it. However, people sit on boards either voluntarily or otherwise and it is no crime to receive a few bob for expenses. We appreciate people who give their time, service and commitment to the State when they are asked to sit on boards.

It is not due to any function of the dormant accounts board that it is being dismantled. The programme for Government deals with quangos and other organisations, but as the dormant accounts fund is reducing there is less need for a board. Indeed, since the 2005 legislation it was decided to bring the fund back within the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government so the board has been superseded. I thank the Minister for the speed with which he is addressing matters within his Department, where he is proceeding with a reduction in the number of agencies from 21 to 12. That process is ongoing.