Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There are some areas and programmes where there needs to be greater progress. There have been some improvements both in evaluation and in performance indicators and in terms of what is being produced.

I have accepted the review committee's recommendations where it has identified room for improvement and I have told Ministers that I expect them to be implemented in the context of the next series of reviews to take place, which I agree should relate to significant areas of expenditure. That is the best way by which this initiative can be utilised.

See this speech in context