Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Of critical importance is the fact that Deputy Donohoe has repeatedly made the point that the Government is willing to accept any proposals that the committee or sectoral committees might present. Deputy Bruton has proposed a way to deal with bids from Departments and Deputy Donohoe has just said that he is willing to consider her proposal.

This July, it is vital that Departments present certain of the key bid proposals they want to make as part of the budgetary process. This is happening so it is not as if we are asking Departments for something that they are not doing. We must open that process up in the sectoral committees. Even one or two meetings would empower Parliament. Such an initiative would help Ministers and Government. We do not seek constitutional replacement or to get one over the Executive. We just want to do our scrutiny job. If we do not implement this initiative this July then we are not doing new politics in a different way. The new process must happen in July. The initiative may take us a year to two to get right. If we do not commence doing this in July with Departmental bids or proposals, not Opposition ones, then I do not think we will have done our job properly.