Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response to Senator Sean D. Barrett's comprehensive amendments. I understand from where the Senator is coming. He has been critical, particularly of the Department of Finance, about what went on in some areas during the years the economy collapsed and beforehand. However, it is important to recognise that the NTMA was set up in response to some of these concerns and that it has proved to be a responsive State agency. I do not believe the difficulty arises in the evaluation of projects but in turning the train around. Too often in the past, it has been impossible to move, derail or turn the train in any other direction. We must acknowledge that there has been a significant change of culture in the public service in the past few years. There has been an important change in values within the Civil Service and the wider public service. We have made significant progress.