Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is only three years in office. My party was in government for 14 years and, for more than half of that time, its Ministers were very effective. I could see, however, as I have acknowledged before, that the longer we were in power, the more institutionalised those Ministers were becoming. It is surprising to see, after only three years, that the Minister is fully institutionalised within the system. We all know that officials are concerned with maintaining their own empires and power bases. That is evident at all levels of government, causing difficulties between town and county councils and between Departments and county councils. The Minister can probably attest that it also causes problems between Brussels and member state governments.

I appeal to the Minister, even at this late stage, to reconsider this issue. He will have time at Christmas to reflect on the debate that has taken place and to conclude that the likely outcome of this proposal will not be in the interests of citizens.