Sean Barrett (Independent)

I thank the Minister. What I was trying to get to were the findings in the Wright report that so few of the staff are qualified. Of 542 staff, only 39 are economists trained to masters level or higher compared with 60% in Canada and 40% in the Netherlands. I wanted to cast the net was widely as possible and I welcome the Minister's announcement about reform of the Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC.

I refer to the other criticisms about the lack of parliamentary oversight when the Department of Finance was getting into trouble and so on. Nyberg and Wright and, I believe, Regling and Watson indicate the need for some parliamentary involvement. My fear is that the Minister's enthusiasm might depend on one person. If he was transferred somewhere else or became head of the IMF or was appointed to one of these arduous tasks, would we have just another Civil Service Department? If I was working on the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, I would reduce the number of Departments to the constitutional minimum of seven. I can think of more Departments I would like to abolish than create. It is very important the Department we create in this legislation meets the needs of the country and its finances at this fairly appalling time.

I am worried also that the adjustment suggested in the stability pact programme update of April is heavily based on extra taxation with no analysis of the expenditure side. It seems the others got there before the Minister. That document provides for €10 billion extra in taxation and no adjustment on the expenditure side.

It is a matter of some concern that matters are so rushed today and will be again tomorrow. I dislike Article 25.2.2° of the Constitution being used. The President should have time to consider all of these matters as well. I will accede to the Minister and withdraw the amendments in light of his encouragement to continue to think along these lines, which we will do.