Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I move specifically to answer, I do not agree with the idea that we should continue to review every aspect of governmental activity when it is clear that we have already had a review of the issue under the schools initiative. We have put forward reforms and improvements, like the public sector benchmark requirements, which deal with a great many of the issues. We cannot continue to roll the matter over, argue repeatedly and expect that people will find schools on their doorsteps while we are here talking about it. Let us get on with the business we have been told to engage in. While we look at reviews and listen to what people have to say, Government has to govern and make decisions. I am satisfied the improvements in public private partnership processes are such as to provide the best possible value for the taxpayer. The public sector benchmark is our best guarantee of that. Where a PPP proceeds, it proceeds on the basis that it beats those benchmarks.

See this speech in context