Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy but we do not have sufficient information to draft robust legislation on it now. That mechanism can work in the future immediately, prospectively and in relation to any new scheme introduced across any Department, like in social protection. That measure should be included in the scheme being brought forward through legislation. If there was a new scheme introduced in an environment, agriculture or construction area, we in the Department of Finance would insist that there be a requirement in the detail of each new scheme to cover this area, like we have with social protection. It has to be done through legislation, through the Department that is paying out the money, that we have this mechanism in place. This can be done for new schemes in the future.