Brendan Ryan (Labour)

The Minister made a sincere and plausible case. I do not wish to get involved in an argument with him, but the truth is that if one looks at section 8, which we will come to later, the disbursement will not be decided by a system within the Department, it will be decided on the basis of a recommendation to Government which the Government may approve, with or without amendment. I have no problem accepting that a system will be devised within the Department which might well construct a set of rigorous criteria — I prefer the term "rigorous" to "rigid"— for the disbursement. However, there is nothing in the legislation to prevent the Government deciding to ignore one of those and slip €100,000 to somebody's pet project, which might not meet any of the criteria. If there is such a provision I missed it.

The Minister would have a valid point if this were an issue decided by a professional, skilled unit within the Department operating according to transparent criteria that everybody could see. All that professionalism is not binding on Government. Why does the matter go to Government to be filleted if it wishes? I do not say that will be the case, but why should it go to Government? The Minister will probably have to wait, given the way we deal with Report Stage. That is why I will not withdraw the amendment.