Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----in that this Government is very open to hearing the truth of the recommendations that people in the public service wish to make. Deputy Ross asked if there is room for dissent. There is certainly room for an opposing or alternative view. The Government's only focus is to make decisions that are in the best interests of the people and the country. Clearly this was a situation that was not acted upon, where at least one person made recommendations warning about the dangers that were there. That is part of the mess that we must now deal with as a legacy. I hope that for the future the structures we set in place will ensure that openness and responsibility are accepted by all, and that - far from being some kind of dictatorship - if there is an alternative or opposing view to a proposition in a Department, it will be listened to and discussed. The vested authorities of the Government will make their decisions in an open and democratic fashion in the best interests of the people and the country.

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