Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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Before Ms O'Loughlin responds on the equality issue, I have a quick follow-up question on the cost-benefit aspect. In the climate committee's report on transport, one of the issues we identified was the concern that the cost-benefit approach used on major transport and other projects did not really give a weighting to the idea of induced impact. It was very much based on a demand-centred approach to pubic transport provision. On projects like the western rail corridor, for instance, the cost-benefit analysis gave a very low weighting to certain matters and a very high rating to others. That is something we in the climate committee identified as a real problem. Given that Mr. Hearne says the cost-benefit issue is being looked at again, it might be worth looking at that report from the climate committee. Will he indicate whether there is a general re-analysis of the cost-benefit approach to major projects? He mentioned a different pricing being given to carbon emissions. I am wondering whether there is also a different approach to some of the other performance indicators that are used.

On leasing, in terms of cost-benefit analysis or even risk assessment, things can tend to get narrowed into a year-on-year focus. I am interested in the role of leasing. Previously, we were operating in a situation where we had considerable constraints as a State in what we could do under the EU budgetary rules. Those rules have changed, with a suspension of the fiscal rules for a two- to three-year period. There is a debate around what form the new EU semester process will take when it comes back. As Mr. Hearne will be aware, it seems different kinds of indicators are likely to be part of the semester process. There has been a discussion about the idea of certain green projects and, indeed, certain social and public projects being excluded from some of the rules relating to balance sheets. I am adding these questions in for whomever can answer them. Has there been an examination in terms of a cost-benefit analysis of leasing versus capital expenditure versus long-term ownership? I would also like to hear about the EU semester process and the kinds of indicators on performance we might be integrating into that.