Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed the Minister is reluctant to put his proposals on the record. It is amazing that only last week, when appearing before the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service, the Taoiseach was prepared to discuss the issue quite openly. He indicated that sweeping changes were being brought forward. I am now amazed to hear the Minister state that the Cabinet has not even discussed them yet. It is strange that the Taoiseach has not discussed it with the Minister. The Taoiseach indicated that when the Estimates are published in mid-November, information on the activities relating to the various programmes will accompany them. Does the Minister agree? Will he confirm that that will be the case? Will there be information pertaining to key performance indicators? Will there be indicators relating to targets for any new spending? If new tax concessions are introduced, will information pertaining to ongoing costs be available, such as what they are expected to be? Will performance indicators also be attached to these Estimates? Can the Minister confirm that he will be required to stand over the expected expenditure for new programmes? I raise this point because we have seen some awful errors in the past. For example, the announcement regarding medical cards cost multiples of the then Minister's projections. I understand that it was five times the actual estimated cost. As far as the pre-1953 PRSI contributions are concerned, the multiple was something like 12 times the estimated costs the Minister of the day announced.

Will there be some way of making the Minister responsible to the House for such errors? Will the Minister elaborate on the consultation that will take place with the Houses regarding any proposed changes in terms of budgetary discussions and similar matters? Will he discuss all of his new plans with the House before they are introduced and implemented?

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