Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputies Ó Snodaigh, Mac Lochlainn and Catherine Murphy for remaining in the Chamber until the completion of the debate. I am amazed that a member of the opposite Fianna Fáil party would make serious allegations and then run out of the Chamber like a little rat. That is the only way I can describe it because I am amazed at the accusations he made. It was his party that made the original Estimate for the CSO and still he comes in here and makes accusations. He did not even speak on the motion about Dáil reform, the fact that the Opposition was granted the chairing of committees.

To address the comments from some of the Members opposite, Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked whether people on social welfare could be employed as census field workers. I also inquired about this possibility when I was in opposition. However, having spoken to the Central Statistics Office, I was informed that this possibility was explored but any recruitment procedure for positions must be open and transparent to all.

Both Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of CACI. This matter of the confidentiality of the census returns has been raised in the House on a number of occasions. I can assure both Deputies that all returns are completely confidential. The company, CACI, was employed to carry out work in 2002, 2006 and 2011. I can assure the Deputies that all the information gathered in the recent census is completely confidential and will remain so.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about the census question regarding the number of children born alive. This question was agreed by the census advisory group. The purpose of the question is to measure fertility and to assist the forecasting of population changes over the coming years.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh also asked about access to the 1926 census records. The Statistics Act 1993 provides that no census information can be released prior to 100 years and a change in legislation would be required to enable such release. I believe this provision should remain and no information should be released prior to 100 years.

Deputy Catherine Murphy raised a number of issues and she differed with Deputy Ó Snodaigh's view on the 1926 census records. She spoke about the need for planning for the future and the importance of census information in this regard. I agree with her view. I attended the most recent board meeting of the CSO and I encourage Departments and Ministers to use the information gathered by the CSO because such information is invaluable, accurate and wide-ranging and would be of benefit when preparing Government policies. I am aware that most Departments and Ministers make use of the CSO information when formulating Government policy. The range of information in the CSO is second to none and it should be used more frequently.

I note the planning and work involved in the design of the census return forms and in the phrasing of the questions, for instance, with regard to intellectual disability and other disabilities. I welcome the contributions of the Members opposite. I thank them and commend the motion to the House.

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