Mr. Ronnie Downes:

The direction in which we are moving with equality budgeting and performance budgeting will help by adding greater systematisation to how Departments bring forward policy proposals and to the kind of performance objectives associated with each of those proposals from the outset. One of the projects we have under way at the moment relates to the policy-proofing of measures. I have already mentioned the public spending code, which people tend to think about by reference to capital programmes. We are upgrading this code by reference to current spending programmes. Since that page is open, if someone were to bring forward a proposal to improve disability services in a particular way, the Department concerned would have to bring forward a proposal in a structured way that makes it clear how much money was to be spent and what the impact would be across different dimensions, including the impact on equality. This equality provision obviously affects people with disabilities but there would also be intersecting issues relating to gender and ethnicity. Issues of regional balance might also arise. In that more structured format, there will be a greater opening for both ourselves in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and for Oireachtas select committees to engage with Departments as to whether particular projects and programmes are achieving their objectives.