Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Far be it for me to argue with you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, but we spent a great deal of time discussing an amendment.

I do not have a problem with Departments engaging consultants and I am not pushed whether members of my party or others make political comments about them. I am concerned that consultants be people appointed on merit and that the public is satisfied they are so appointed. That involves transparency. There is a case for the Minister to at least put together a code of conduct for the agency whereby if a budget for particular consultants is to exceed, say, €50,000 such consultants should be appointed following a public competition. It does not have to take the pace of the Civil Service Commission. The agency can do this at its own pace but it should advertise, invite people in and be transparent in its evaluation of who gets the contract.