John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I, too, am glad to have the opportunity to say a few words in these very important statements on the setting up of committees in the Oireachtas and Dáil reform in general. I was fortunate to have been chosen by the Taoiseach as Chairman of a committee in the last Dáil, albeit for a short period before the general election. I regarded it as a great privilege, prior to which I also had the privilege of serving on the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service for a number of years. Certainly, the committee system has tremendous merit when taken seriously and dealt with properly.

I regret that up until recently we were not able to reach agreement with the Opposition parties which were looking for more jobs for their boys and girls. However, I welcome the fact that we have now reached agreement and the outlook is positive. Committees constitute a major part of the Oireachtas framework. The existing structure allows for a flexible and more transparent approach to scrutiny away from the more formal platforms of the Dáil and Seanad Chambers. Members of committees avail of opportunities provided to engage publicly on many issues. The system also facilitates access by the public to the Houses of the Oireachtas and their committees, as we have all observed through the hearing of evidence and presentations by delegations. We have all used the opportunity from time to time to bring various interest groups to Leinster House which report back to their communities. This provides them with a national platform to tell their story. The process also allows the other side of the story to be heard, that of the Department involved.

The Government Chief Whip referred to the work of the Joint Committee on the Constitution in the run-up to the referendum on the right to life of the unborn. It was a great example of the advantages attached to the committee system. Previously debates on this issue had been characterised by bitterness and divisiveness. However, as a result of the committee's intervention, a public platform was provided where all opinions could be expressed in a calm and professional environment, ensuring the debate was grounded on a much more rounded view of the issues involved and a greater appreciation of the concerns of the various interest groups participating.

Another example within the past few years of a committee doing excellent work is the sub-committee of the Committee of Public Accounts which was chaired by the late Jim Mitchell who was the driving force of that inquiry and followed up implementation of many of the recommendations to emerge, many of which have had a lasting influence on the way in which we conduct our business today, not least the establishment of the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Committees are an invaluable tool for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the scale of their role may be determined from the fact that last year alone there were 531 committee meetings and 191 reports published. Some 1,215 witnesses gave evidence. Those statistics speak for themselves.

I referred to my membership of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service in the last Administration. In that context I welcome the changes proposed by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, and the range of reforms introduced in the past two years, including the recently announced introduction of a unified budget, with effect from 5 December next. These initiatives will give committees greater opportunities to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending by each Department. In an effort to give maximum effect to the opportunities presented by these reforms, it is intended that specific provision will be made in committees to place greater importance on annual output statements and value for money and policy reviews, in particular. Committees should be afforded the opportunity to formally examine departmental expenditure on a more regular basis, perhaps quarterly, with a view to having more informed debates on the Estimates process.

Deputy Enright referred to the Adjournment debate and the discussion of current issues. I agree with what she said, with one exception. Three minutes is adequate time because one can tell one's story in 540 words. Perhaps many of us like to hear ourselves talk too much, but that is a matter for individual Deputies. It might be ideal to have six slots on a given day at earlier times. With the Adjournment debate held at night, to a certain extent, it probably loses its validity, as one is talking to an empty Chamber. If Members had an opportunity to address, albeit briefly, issues of local importance in a full Chamber, it would be more beneficial to everybody concerned. I support the call for these welcome changes to be made, for the number of slots to be increased and the time available to be reduced to three minutes.

I welcome the new committees the Taoiseach has introduced, namely, the joint committee on the constitutional amendment regarding children, the joint committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and, possibly, a committee on the Irish language. I wish the chairpersons and memberships of committees well in their endeavours.

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