Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses are very welcome and I thank them for the information and briefing documents provided. I also thank the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for his briefing documents because they are very helpful. I also offer congratulations to the Department on a clear audit except in relation to procurement, which I will come to.

My attention was caught by the list of positive strategies that Mr. O'Driscoll mentioned and the news that the Department is about to establish another one for gay, lesbian and transexual people. There are four major equality strategies and they are wonderful on paper. How are those implemented in different Departments and in budgetary considerations? Are there practical measures for the proofing of decisions taken by Government?