Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Salaries are estimated to be in the region of €300,000 to €350,000. I am not in a position to provide Senators with detail as to the office accommodation. If there is to be a directorate or commission with a staff of four, five or six, it is not difficult to work out the accommodation required. No decisions have been made as far as this is concerned. It is most unlikely, however, that the office will be housed in the offices of any other body. The Judicial Council was mentioned in this regard. It is most unlikely that both of these bodies will be housed in the same accommodation. These decisions have not been made with any great accuracy in order to allow me to be precise having regard to the rental market and precise location. There will be an independent office, however; that is for sure.

Senator Norris, or perhaps Senator McDowell, made reference to a possible overlap of staff, with particular reference to a potential overlap involving the Judicial Council and the commission. That will not be the case. They will be separate entities, in separate premises, and they will have separate and distinct staff. I can do no more at this stage than say I would be very happy to keep Senators fully informed as to the outworking of the commission, having regard to the fact that Senator McDowell is right when he says there will be a setting-up period between the enactment of the legislation and the coming into operation of the commission. Experience shows that period to be a number of months, probably in the region of the year, or perhaps a little more. The legislation on the regulatory authority came into operation towards the end of 2016. It is only now becoming fully operational, with a chief executive officer, dedicated premises, a staff and, of course, a very busy and detailed programme of work. In nine months or a year after the enactment of this Bill, we should certainly have the commission functioning in a way that is envisaged in the legislation.