Mary Henry (Independent)

I support Senator Quinn's amendment. In my experience, when we push forward the publication date of reports, the people involved in writing them are pleased. I refer in particular to the report of the inspector of mental hospitals. When Deputy Cowen was Minister for Health and Children, that report usually emerged some 15 to 18 months after the end of the year. Very soon, that interval had been reduced to nine or ten months and the people involved in producing the report were pleased with that improvement. Such reports should not be regarded as simply historic documents. As Senator Quinn has advocated, they should be issued as promptly as possible so that there is still time to take action to influence developments.