John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The text of section 15, as passed by Dáil Éireann, provides for NORA strategy statements, the finalised documents, to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Similar provisions are set out in legislation setting up other bodies, for example, the digital hub. I do not consider that specific issues pertain to NORA which require that a more stringent provision on strategy statements should be applied to the agency.

Section 15 sets out the information to be included in strategy statements. Such information must include key strategies and activities of the agency, outputs the agency aims to achieve and against which its performance will be checked, and staff resources and expenditure proposals necessary to pursue the agency's strategies.

The House should note that section 31 provides for the examination of NORA's chief executive officer by the Committee of Public Accounts and select committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas. This section requires the chief executive officer to provide evidence on expenditure by the agency to the Committee of Public Accounts and to account to committees of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. Therefore, I am not disposed to accept the proposed amendment to subsection (4).