Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In fairness, a structure is in place for the committees of this House to analyse Government expenditure across all areas of the public service on the basis of targets they would place for themselves. Before I introduced changes to the budgetary process, there were criticisms of no references to outputs. I have put an obligation on all Departments to set out their outputs at the beginning of every year and to explain why if they do not reach them.

See this speech in context