Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 14:

In page 3, line 34, after “Government” to insert “, to include all cabinet members,”.

The Minister will recall that the most recent budget was the subject of considerable criticism from Government ranks. I have in mind specific criticism made by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, who expressed the view that Ministers from what she described as some of the big spending Departments had been excluded from budgetary discussions and decisions. This sentiment was echoed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, who made the following comment: "I do not like the fact that I was not more involved in the build-up to some of the decisions". His words were a further indication that there had been an unsatisfactory level of engagement, at least at some stages of the budgetary process.

The Economic Management Council, which consists of four men, of which the Minister is one, occupies the central position in discussions on all matters economic, not least budgetary decisions. This is a bad state of affairs. I say this as someone on the outside who is looking into Cabinet. As the Minister will be aware, I am a supporter of the concept of multi-annual frameworks and budgeting because they make sense and I acknowledge that this legislation constitutes a good and solid step forward in this regard. However, it would not be good practice if a small number of Cabinet members were able to make the call on key budgetary decisions to which the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility applies. If such an approach has taken hold, it should be weeded out.

Having said that, amendments Nos. 14 and 17 simply propose to insert after the word "Government" on line 34 of page 3 the words "to include all cabinet members". When making decisions in the areas of education, health or social protection, line Ministers, who are responsible for delivering on their respective budgets, must be part and parcel of the decision making process. This requirement should be stated in legislation.