Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I thank the Minister. We will miss the almost-weekly instalments of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which has become almost a fixture in the Seanad in the last while, but a very valuable one.

We are grateful to the Minister for bringing the Bill to the Seanad first. It has been a fine example not just of how the Seanad can operate, but also of how the legislative process can be very a co-operative, open and transparent business. The Minister has co-operated with all of us and we have tried to raise as many issues as possible with him. His officials have been very much a public part of that process which is very welcome because often there is a feeling that officials are hidden. We do not see the work they do or the effort they put in to the development of legislation and so we are particularly grateful to them. I commend the Minister on his efforts and his personal commitment to this Bill as well as on his command of the brief.

Question put and agreed to.