Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I am honoured and delighted to be a member of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service. As a new Senator, I feel I am getting the opportunity to fully participate in good Government.

I agree with what Senator Mansergh said about the Office of the Information Commissioner. During his attendance at the committee last week, Mr. Murphy educated Members from all parties. Before we heard him, many people were not really clear about what the Bill contained. There are other groups that are making a major contribution as well. However, representatives of groups such as One in Four and the NUJ who appeared before the committee used Mr. Murphy's document and their contributions have been extrapolated from it.

Mr. Murphy attended an earlier committee meeting in his capacity as Ombudsman when he took on the Revenue Commissioners in regard to the taxation allowances of widows' pensions. There would not have been any redress for them but for his defence of this more vulnerable group in society. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service and while I am not defending his apparent challenge to the Bill, Mr. Murphy's contribution was relevant and helpful. We are privileged to have a man of his calibre holding these positions. He told us he had been a public servant for over 40 years. I believe in the public service and know that public servants have to be visionary and entrepreneurial, just as business people must be. I could see that Kevin Murphy had the courage to speak out.