Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Very well. I have made this point at this committee previously but in terms of ground rules, the timeliness, amount and quality of the information are key to the successful relationship the Ministers envisage in their submission to the committee. A second proposal would be to consider the monthly statements at the end of the month and the subsequent expenditure reports that are produced by each Department. I appreciate absolutely the Minister's observation that earlier in the year in particular, the figures are tentative and the committee acknowledges this. Members are not suggesting someone will come back and eat the Minister if there is a subsequent variation in the figures. Again however, these figures could be made available to the committee within a week to ten days after being made available and brought to the Cabinet. I do not see why they should not be made available if this committee is to do its work properly because without the information, I do not know whether members can be as helpful to the Government as possible.