This is the most devastating section that could be in any Bill because the words are so definitive, "the Authority is hereby dissolved." This brings into focus the whole concept of what the Minister is trying to do in this Bill. He agreed with my colleague, Senator Harte, that the amount of money involved is small, but if you add the Authority to An Foras Talúntais, An Foras Forbartha, the National Social Service Board, and the smaller organisations which are fundamental to local democracy, the Minister's policy seems to be that the end justifies the means. The unfortunate Dublin Transport Authority is included in that conglomeration of groups. There is no real economic reason for abolishing this body, but if you add enough of them together, maybe there is a reason. I have to oppose the section.
Can the Minister tell me what plans, if any, the Department have for the existing staff of the Authority? I am thinking of the people who were given certain commitments on their appointment, people with whom the State had a contract of service. I saw nothing in the Bill to cover these people. I am thinking of the Chief Executive, Mr. Phil Murray, and others. What future has the Minister or his Department for these committed people in the public sector? Will they be offered the same kind of voluntary redundancy that the Minister's colleague, the dreaded Minister for Finance had offered other public service employees? We are living in fear and dread of approaching Deputy MacSharry about anything.
