Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his comprehensive overview of the situation and what is envisaged and proposed in the Bill. I also welcome Fianna Fáil's support. Senator O'Domhnaill's questions are understandable and I am sure we will all have a few questions. I like the Bill because it fits with everything proposed by the Government. It removes duplication in so far as any exists, and perhaps it does, because it is a separate agency. The board has been answerable to the Department and the Minister.

It is good and logical that where necessary, as in this case, agencies are taken back within the Department where they should be. As the Minister of State outlined, Civil Defence has had a separate board since 1950 and this will remove the bureaucracy associated with an independent board and the corporate governance legal requirements. For these reasons I greatly welcome the Bill.

We salute the great work and voluntary effort of all involved through the years. The Minister of State outlined the great work undertaken by Civil Defence in recent tragedies. When it is within the Department, activity will be more focused and co-ordination will be better because of the involvement of the Defence Forces. I look forward to the Minister of State summing up on Second Stage and answering the questions posed by Senator Ó Domhnaill.

As in a sense Civil Defence was a branch of the Department, there will be no change. Political accountability to the Oireachtas for the discharge of the board's functions was with the Minister, and the Secretary General of the Department will remain the Accounting Officer for all expenditure on the board's part. The Minister of State outlined how within six to nine months its operation will be wrapped up with a proper audit. Shortly after taking office the Minister decided the functions of the board should be transferred to the Department, which fits with the Government's programme and I greatly welcome it. The Minister of State indicated this solution will save approximately ¤60,000 per annum from the Civil Defence budget of ¤5.6 million. This is a small amount but the saving is welcome. Every saving made in the present climate must be welcomed. I could make a number of other points but I look forward to hearing the Minister of State and we can further tease out issues if necessary on Committee Stage.