Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for dealing with this matter effectively. The impression we had in this House was that the Minister was of the same opinion. It is an important issue for the 1,000 people who serve the public throughout the country. Not many of them are qualified as midwives or nurses, but some of them are. If those who might hope to serve on this board were precluded from serving on this board if they were members of local authorities, it might inhibit them from running in local elections. I thank the Minister of State, the Cathaoirleach, the clerk of the House and the staff of the Department for their efficiency in drafting this amendment and bringing it before the House. Some discomfort is involved in having to bring the Bill back to the Dáil to finalise this amendment, but it is a very short journey and the implications are worthwhile. I want to emphasise that this provision was in the original Bill. I tried to get the previous Administration to remove it.

I wish the Minister of State well and hope she is promoted to Cabinet shortly. I know she will not use the bus lanes yet because that would be ill-advised, to say the least.