Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to answer the final question asked by Deputy Chambers about the level of engagement in a normal year. I believe such engagement should be year-long. If we publish a mid-year expenditure report in July 2017 and start the same engagement that we are about to start now, then we will have all collectively missed a trick. I will outline what should happen. As each Department publishes what it aims to do with the available Estimate, on a reasonably regular basis the sectoral committee should engage with the Minister on how Departments deliver on their commitments. I have gone through this process in previous years so I know the information exists. Therefore, it is up to the committee to pull the Minister in and have a dialogue with him or her. The big change that I hope to see is that dialogue takes place across the year as opposed to just from the summer onwards. Such an initiative would benefit the Minister concerned because it would give him or her an opportunity to talk about things that are relevant to his or her Department in a freer space than is traditionally available when standing up in the Dáil to respond to specific questions.