John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Does Mr. Fraser find it a bit peculiar that no one wants to own this child and that everyone is saying the decision was made by somebody else? The Taoiseach has not yet decided to appear before the committee. Mr. Brady is upset over some letter or other being published in The Irish Times. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy McGrath, he has come before the committee and has been transparent about it. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, do not know. No one seems to know anything. Mr. Fraser has given it his best shot this morning and that is fair enough, but nobody seems to know anything and the committee is expected to accept that. The Members of Parliament who pass budgets and go into detail on all these issues are expected to suck it up and get on with it, while those within the Department who have an issue in terms of their award of 5%, and others, are supposed to accept it as well.

There is a problem here in terms of how it is perceived. There is a problem in terms of the necessary reform of TLAC and all those other organisations or committees or whatever they are. I believe that reform should be driven by the Department of the Taoiseach. Who would bother applying for a job when the outcome is that most of the jobs go to insiders? Mr. Fraser is aware of an awful lot of what goes on in government. He is there at the centre of things. I will leave it at that but I agree with the sentiment expressed in this morning's edition of the Irish Examiner, that is, that something stinks at the heart of Government. I think that is a fact.