Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I thank those Members who have contributed to the debate, particularly the Minister for Finance. I admit yesterday I was discouraged on hearing the contribution of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon. He represents the junior partner in the Government, a party which set out to break the mould in politics but has ended up supping from the bowl more deeply than any other party. The gist of his contribution was that everything was all right. It was obvious from his contribution that matters are not all right.

The members of the boards of over 600 State and public bodies are appointed by ministerial diktat. They come to 6,000 people. Since 1980 the increase has been tenfold. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has appointed close on 2,000 people to State boards; the Department of Health and Children, 1,400 people; yet, we are to take this for granted as good public governance. It is not.

On the day the Taoiseach wrapped himself in the cloak of respectability with the launch of the report of the task force on active citizenship——

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