Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Senator Byrne referred to people being taken to the cleaners. Unfortunately, this Department is being established because the country has been taken to the cleaners. The amendment proposed by Senator Barrett envisages the sort of scrutiny of public appointments that was put forward as a suggestion for Seanad reform in the O'Rourke report, which we have already debated in the House. It is a very interesting idea, although some of the provisions in the amendments are unduly prescriptive to be placed in legislation. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, has already referred to the website, which will contain much fuller information and economic data than we have had to date from Government, which is an important point. However, this should not be placed in legislation.

I am somewhat troubled by the provision in amendment No. 24 that "The Secretary General shall appear before the Oireachtas at quarterly hearings". This might undermine the role of the Minister and the vital principle that the Minister is the person accountable to the Oireachtas for the Department's work. The Minister has appointed an excellent Secretary General to the Department in the person of Mr. Robert Watt, so some of what has been said in regard to these amendments is clearly not appropriate. It is an interesting and welcome idea, nonetheless.