Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I thank Senator Barrett for drawing attention to the fact that an amendment was required in order to include the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government amendment addresses that point.

We do not accept that the right to borrow would be restricted to capital reasons and there are a number of reasons for that. For example, it may be necessary at some stage for the board to borrow for current expenditure. A pertinent example would be if there were a large number of fitness to practise cases in any single year. As drafted, the provision is a standard financial one. It is important to bear in mind the board is a self-funding body. Any borrowing undertaken must be serviced from its own moneys. In those kinds of circumstances, therefore, the board would require the flexibility to be able to borrow for current expenditure.

Amendment No. 19 includes the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to which the Senator drew our attention. That is a very clear safeguard in regard to the practice of the board, namely, that it would be required to secure the permission or consent of both Ministers in the event of needing to borrow.

I hope the Senator will accept we have met him halfway on this issue. There are good grounds, however, for retaining the right for the board to borrow in those rare circumstances where it would need to do so for exceptional current purposes.