Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Adams would have benefited from some programme advisers in a different context in terms of working out political issues associated with the peace process and so on. In the peace process, advisers played a noble and significant part.

Regarding political reform and modern systems of government, does the Taoiseach agree that political parties, be they in or out of government, need independent capacity to interrogate policies and issues? While we can talk about value for money and the cost - I accept all that - we should not argue about the fundamental principle of a political party having depth in terms of policy and capacity. When a political party comes into power, there should be creative tension between its policy resource and personnel and what has been described as the permanent government. It works very constructively on many occasions, and that should be acknowledged also. It can be very useful in co-ordination and in developing joined-up government.

It is disappointing that the specific roles for the programme managers have not been identified. We need to value democracy and the input of political parties. That is a perspective I would bring to the discussion on this specific question.

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