Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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This goes to the heart of the matter. Some very good work is being done in the Department of the Taoiseach on the well-being framework. I acknowledge that. Ms Bourke and Ms Jacobs will know that I have particular views around the inclusion of language and culture and never pass up an opportunity to bring that up. It is a question of where that work goes and how much it influences the budget. The strength of the well-being framework should be the idea that we become more outcome-focused so that when the budgetary spend is made, year on year, we should be able to measure that against progress within our society, based on the well-being framework and whatever dimensions we have chosen to bring out in that. Deputy Coveney's point about implementation is absolutely key so that we do not create an office that is a talking shop. We do not need that. We do not need another one of those. If we invest in the creation of this role we have to find a way to ensure that it takes the well-being framework and really gives it teeth and makes it sit down into our policymaking. There are some very interesting approaches in Finland, whereby the Prime Minister has to come before the committee of the future and report on the strategic objectives they want to achieve. Similarly, in New Zealand, which is further down the road in terms of the well-being framework, the Prime Minister has to respond to those reports. That is absolutely key. What we are trying to get at is twofold. We are trying to allow for cathedral thinking whereby we think longer term than any one government. We look to a 50-year time horizon and begin to think about that. At the same time, we are also trying to really get into that implementation piece. We are trying to get our well-being framework to really sit down within the legislative or policy context and deliver outcomes for people. That is why I think the role can be so important if it is properly resourced and empowered.