Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

We have had a long discussion about the IMF. The contention of the Minister of State is that it has changed for the better. Can he tell us the role of Mr. Wright in leading an inquiry into the functioning or non-functioning of the Department of Finance? I understand the report is finished and available. Various Opposition parties in the House were invited to meet Mr. Wright and his team, which was obviously influenced by the IMF. We refer to governance in developing countries but clearly governance issues in Ireland are of enormous importance to the IMF and reforming the Department of Finance, bringing it into line with the change in our economic status and updating it. I asked the Minister of State what the change in the relationship was, where the Wright report is and when we will receive it. Will it be postponed until after the election?

On the role of the Department of Finance, who are its Irish representatives in the IMF? It is a much coveted appointment in the upper reaches of the Irish public service. Given that we are now in hock to the IMF, are more people battling for Ireland or fewer because of the cutbacks? I ask the Minister of State to give us a picture of the changing relationship whereby we get an additional voice in the IMF. We know we are reporting to it weekly.

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