Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his attendance and will make a couple of brief points. First, it is encouraging to see the Department of the Taoiseach coming in well within budget last year despite the additional pressures of the fiscal treaty, the European Union Presidency and the tribunal costs. I would appreciate the Taoiseach's view on the issue raised by Deputy Sean Fleming regarding the information booklets. As past Administrations had a record of losing referendums - "If you don't know vote "No"" was the mantra of the "No" side in previous referendums - one deficiency was the provision of information from an early stage. I would also appreciate ascertaining whether the Taoiseach or his Department has given thought to either the McKenna or the Crotty judgment. Ireland must be one of the few democracies globally in which one can elect a Government on a platform and agenda of introducing various referendums but in which the Government cannot then use the apparatus of government to put forward its side of the argument. I seek the Taoiseach's views in this regard.

On the issue of referendum commissions and so on, due to the large number of referendums the present Government has held and intends to hold, has the Taoiseach given thought either to putting the referendum commission on a permanent basis or establishing something like an electoral commission? Such a commission could consider broader issues including voter education and voter registration to encourage the maximum amount of information being put into the public domain, as well as greater participation in various electoral ballots.

I will make three further points. In his statement, the Taoiseach spoke of the transformation of his Department into a Cabinet office. He might expand on this aim because everyone who is in politics sees that when issues fall between the cracks, they are not the responsibility of any single Department. The Taoiseach might outline to members the efforts his Department is taking to bridge such issues.

I would appreciate the Taoiseach's view on tribunals in general because he has inherited a position in which at least some of the costs of both the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals must be met by the taxpayer. In looking back at the actions of the previous Government in establishing tribunals and with the benefit of hindsight, does the Taoiseach agree this is probably not the most efficient or cost-effective method of getting to the truth of an issue of public concern? Does he have thoughts on how it could be done better? In this context, I refer to the lack of preparation put into meeting costs arising from the Mahon tribunal. The Committee of Public Accounts discovered that although the Mahon tribunal had been under way for years, at no point had the previous Government set aside a fund to help meet the eventual costs of that tribunal.

My final question pertains to the EU Presidency. The Taoiseach pointed out his Department has managed to reduce the budge of the Presidency. Ireland has had what most people would consider thus far to have been a successful Presidency. Does the Taoiseach believe this is proof that Ireland can run a cost-effective Presidency and perhaps must learn from the mistakes of past Presidencies of engaging in too much razzmatazz, such as bringing the Presidency on a road show to the constituency of every Minister in the country? Does he believe this is not the way the Government must do its business?