Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, I welcome the statement the Minister, Deputy Noonan, made about the role of the committee and giving due consideration, as well as the opening statement on the historic opportunity to enhance the relationship between the Government and the Oireachtas. The key to this will be the timeliness of information and its adequacy. In that context, I ask the Minister whether certain areas of information, which are standard in the flow of information from Departments to the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, can be published on a timely basis. For instance, each Department prepared extensive notes for each Minister on taking office. They were like doorstoppers in some or perhaps all cases. I never have understood why they should not simply be published in full. They obviously are subject to freedom of information requests by journalists but I do not see why Members of Parliament should be obliged to use freedom of information to get them. In the context of the new politics, could there be an agreement whereby one week or ten days or even three days after the Minister received such briefings, they simply could be published? They would be extremely valuable for the sectoral committees and absolutely essential for this committee. While obviously one would not be able to read them all at once, they would give one a general background on specific areas and would reflect departmental advice.