Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has said that the Bill will not be a cost to the Exchequer. However, section 3 of the Bill states that he must do this in consultation with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Why, if the Bill will not be a cost to the Exchequer, must he consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform? Is it just a case of the Department of Finance shoving its weight around the place? I would say that is probably the case.

I welcome the Bill and wish the Minister well with it. The legislation will put a lot of extra pressure on councillors because they will have further consultation with the public and, therefore, have an increased workload. I know that the Minister has the Moorhead report and should make a decision in relation to that.