Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy asked if it is intended to apply similar changes to the expenses of Ministers. The answer is, yes, it is. The Deputy's first question was in regard to Ministers' offices. There are guidelines in existence on the operation of ministerial constituency offices. In respect of those guidelines, there also has been a requirement since April that further savings be made by Ministers on that account.

Clearly, the verifiability of expenses is an important issue. I accept that the commission proposed to me that the new regime should be based on attendance but no verification mechanism was proposed for attendance. I am not satisfied in regard to all expenses that attendance of itself verifies the incurring of the expense - it may in some cases but not in all. These issues are being worked through with the commission at present. I agree with the Deputy that even in the context of a block grant, a total absence of verification is not an adequately transparent system to carry the public confidence that must be carried in any system of expense.

The Deputy's last question related to when it is proposed to bring forward this regime. I have already had extensive consultations with the commission and with the delegation representing the major parties in the House. It is the intention to announce a revised regime in advance of the budget.

I am open to persuasion by the other parties on the appropriate day, but it would seem to me that the appropriate course of action would be to bring it into operation from 1 January next. We already introduced expenses changes half way through this year, involving substantial reductions in the amount of expenses. For ease of administration, the best course of action would be to introduce them from 1 January next.

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