Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

We are pleased the Minister is in the Chamber to take our questions. The broad smile on his face suggests he is equally pleased to be here. The Minister has made much of the promised spending review which, by definition, will be a comprehensive process. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, has made clear that not alone will the Government seek to reach the target of €3.6 billion in cutbacks in the next budget, as required under the terms of the bailout deal, but may seek to secure savings of as much as €4 billion.

In the interests of transparency, good decision-making and fair play, the Minister must publish the comprehensive spending review in full, as a single document. If the Government is asking people to shoulder the burden, to be patriotic in tolerating austerity and cutbacks, the very least to which the public and the Members of this House are entitled is full and frank information. It is very odd, given that his remit relates to transparency and reform, that the Minister would undertake such a comprehensive procedure only to shield it from the view and consideration of this House and of concerned groups and individuals. The response that it will be sent to a steering committee or sub-committee is not adequate; we take it as read that it will go through those machinations. Why can we not have sight of it in its entirety? It could be published on the Department's website, an innovation of which the Minister is rightly proud.

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