Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I welcome that we will have a debate on public sector reform. I would like to request an additional debate on an issue linked to that agenda, namely, the existence of State agencies and public bodies in this country. The budget process has put in train a rationalisation plan for many of them and contains proposals in regard to shared secretariats for others. Yesterday's document indicates that further rationalisations of a number of bodies and their purpose need to be undertaken.

We need, as part of that debate, to discuss the process of public appointments and the role the Oireachtas can and should play in such a process. It has been proposed in the past that this House should have a direct role in terms of assessing people nominated to chair many public and State bodies. If such a reform were to come about, it would give this House more relevance and ensure there is in place a process whereby people charged with chairing such bodies must indicate, prior to taking up their appointments, their vision for the agencies they seek to operate.