Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

What that Department does is a mystery to everyone in the House and the media.

There will be a restructuring of the Government. While communications, broadcasting and so on would comprise a massive Department, energy, the subject of today's business must also comprise a large Department. Marine matters should be pulled together in a separate Department because they relate to a more significant territory than other areas administered by Departments.

We miss a great deal because measures are not brought before the House for approval. Instead of wasting whatever time is not spent on legislation, we should spend it on invigilating strategy statements. Will the Minister accept amendment No. 39, which best expresses this wish?

I will not withdraw amendment No. 68. When we were members of the Committee of Public Accounts, we invigilated expenditure. This matter relates to revenue and is an interesting aspect of revenue-raising and taxation. Deputy Durkan and I spent four or five years examining accounts.

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