Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a brief final point. I accept the bona fides of the Minister in terms of debates of this nature. However, this Minister will not be here forever. A new government will take over at some point, whether the Minister likes it or not. Circumstances will change. The aim of this amendment is to include a safeguard that will provide for a debate, but it is not a die-in-a-ditch issue.

We have learned that advice was given to the previous Government. There were reports that issued warning signals. None of us can turn back the clock or say what would have happened if X, Y or Z had been done. If some of these reports had triggered an automatic debate in this Chamber, at least there would have been more scrutiny of the fact that the Government was not accepting the recommendations made in certain reports. It is not about the term in office of the current Government, rather it is about what will happen five, ten or 15 years down the road. Given that this legislation will be in place until it is repealed, I suggest this extra safeguard is needed. I do not think the Minister is completely opposed to this proposal. He has said the debate would take place anyway. I want to make sure the next Minister for Finance cannot take a contrary view. I do not propose to die in the ditch for the sake of this additional safeguard. However, in the light of the mess we have been in, it would be proper for us to ensure that when the report was laid before the Houses, it automatically triggered a debate in this Chamber.

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