Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Browne and Ms Woods for attending the meeting and their opening presentations, as well as the engagement they partook in thereafter and the volume of information they relayed to committee members. I thank committee members for their input and extracting the sort of information that leads us to the belief, contention and summary that we are glad to see the budget is being met and their demands in that regard have been met. They now have a home and a property and their workforce has doubled. The relevant expertise is being taken on board in that sphere and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has been innovative in the way in which it has assisted them to ensure they have the personnel.

The centre's technology is up to speed and it is developing partnerships across Europe and further afield. Its mid-term review is imminent. We expect that will contain recommendations along the lines of policy initiatives and, more particularly, legislation. That will now be aligned with similar moves afoot across Europe and the EU. We are glad to get that update, as Deputy Berry said. We will keep a close watch on the brief, which is our duty on behalf of those who give us the privilege to do so. It is a very important sphere and aspect of governance that greatly impacts on our ability to provide the sort of security that we expect, not only in government but also in the private sector, which the centre is working with. That will ensure all of the services are delivered in a manner that is not open to the sort of intervention that has become all too prevalent in recent times.