Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The Minister of State appears to suggest that if one allows the Oireachtas to set the terms of reference there would be less focus in drawing them up. I do not understand that reasoning. Ultimately, the Government will determine whether or not a proposal is passed in these Houses. If the Government allows the Opposition to have an input, it will mean there is a better chance of considering all the angles and producing the best terms of reference. Less blame could be laid at the Government's door if the wrong terms of reference are decided. For example, many Members on the Government side have complained about the outcome of the boundary commission dealing with Dáil constituencies. The commission had to work within its terms of reference. If it had been given a different terms of reference by the Government, it would have produced a different outcome. There is no point in Government Senators complaining about the outcome when the terms of reference were set by the Government.

As Senator Brian Hayes stated, everybody will have ownership of the terms of reference if both sides have an input and everybody has a responsibility if any problems arise. It is in the Government's interest to allow this. I do not see how it could be less focused. The Government often accepts amendments from the Opposition and these are often technical in nature. It means that more people are considering the different aspects of the proposals and suggesting better ways of dealing with a problem.

I read an article in The Sunday Tribune about the wisdom of crowds. The thesis argued by the author of a book on the issue was that the more people involved in a decision, the better the outcome will be.