Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I am amused at the Government's newfound interest in efficiency. Everyone knows my view on this issue and the extent to which the Government has been a proliferator of State agencies has been phenomenal. There are nearly 1,000 such agencies. One of the worst offenders is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has almost 100. I doubt the sincerity of the Government's new-found interest given that the legislative programme features 19 Bills which will establish 17 new agencies, extend the power of five agencies and allow one agency to establish a sub-agency. Much of what the Tánaiste says is bluster and of no substance.

A number of departmental agencies — the National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, Rights Commissioners, Equality Tribunal and Equality Authority — have a role in the area of employment law compliance. Is there not a case for establishing a single pathway for employment law compliance? Could we not take action on training given that six organisations are involved in this area? The figure is 41 if one includes the city and county enterprise boards which award training grants. Is there not also a case for consolidation in the awarding of grants for alternative energy, which is done by Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency and Science Foundation Ireland? There is considerable potential for achieving efficiencies in these areas.

Does the Minister agree that the establishment of NERA and the National Consumer Agency was a knee-jerk reaction to the scandal involving Gama Construction Limited and the "Rip-Off Republic" television series by Mr. Eddie Hobbs? What was really needed was the appointment of a substantial number of labour inspectors. The establishment of a quango, with a board, website and headquarters, will not necessarily achieve the desired objective. If sufficient inspectors had been in place, it would not have been necessary to spend a fortune on a new agency.

This argument also applies in the area of consumers. If the Director of Corporate Enforcement was properly resourced and empowered, we would need a massive new agency with a large number of board members who incur substantial expenses. There is little evidence to show the establishment of the National Consumer Agency has reduced prices or improved conditions for consumers.

See this speech in context