Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply, which is clear on commitment but short on detail. I am disappointed the Minister does not intend to have the new procedures in place to allow us to have a more meaningful debate on the Estimates and budget for 2006. I refer to five white elephants, e-voting, MediaLab, Stadium Campus Ireland, accommodation for asylum seekers that was not occupied and the health service computer system. Between them, they cost €500 million, which would have furnished 500,000 families with a medical card, ensured 40,000 inpatient procedures and 2,000 extra gardaí on the street. The issue of waste has a real impact on the capacity to deliver services to people who need them.

What changes will the Minister make to the budgetary process? Will Estimates be provided earlier? Will we be provided with more resources within the Houses to evaluate them? Will key performance indicators be linked to Estimates when we vote on them? Will a cost benefit analysis of taxes be conducted so we can see that what is being done on the tax front is sensible? Will the Minister change the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General so that instead of examining repeated mistakes, the causes of mistakes are addressed? Will he reinstitute the programme review, which has been allowed to rust under recent stewardships in the Department?

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