John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister outlined in his opening statement, this was a commitment in the programme for Government. That is the first box ticked. It was to be done within three years. That is the second box ticked. Having an independent chair is another box ticked. The public consultation is another box ticked. The outreach to the stakeholders, the service users and the service providers is about as comprehensive as we could get.

I just looked at the website again. It is still not on the website and we have still not received the email. If the Minister is responsible for posting to the Department's website, the country is in a serious pickle. The Department has a highly paid Secretary General whose job is to administer this - more highly paid than any other civil servant in the country. The Minister needs to have a stern conversation when he returns to the plaza. It is not good enough. I hold the Minister responsible for it politically. Everyone will hold him responsible for it. As I said, if a Minister is responsible for what goes on a departmental website, we are in a ridiculous situation. I would go back to the Department and say it is not good enough on their part. It is now 10.20 a.m. and it was raised at 9.35 a.m. I know it takes time for these to go up but that is my view on that.

I believe the Minister has answered all the questions that have been asked on the matter. I am very satisfied that the process he is going through will be as comprehensive, open and inclusive as possible. I have a question on the recruitment of a chair. The Minister had hoped to appoint an independent chair. He said some very good names had come across his desk or had been identified for the position. Is it correct that this needs to go to an eTenders procurement? What is the tender process? The Taoiseach has asked the Attorney General to review the entire planning law system in the country and has given him and his office the required resources to do it and a timeline in which to report. Very significant resources have been allocated for that purpose. What is prohibiting the Minister from doing this. This is the only issue I see with tenders.

I am not being trite but, for example, with tenders for school buildings it is not necessarily the best builder or contractor who gets the job. It is the one who comes in with the lowest price. What criteria are there on the tendering position? I am a bit flummoxed, as I am sure the Minister is. He has stated he would like to have been in a position to appoint someone. I would have trusted him politically with that appointment. Will he give more detail on that?