Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Last week I referred to the decision-making process in the Department of Finance, the absence of records showing how oral advice had been given, the need for a paper trail in policy determination and the recording of the advice given by advisers. I am glad to recognise that yesterday the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said he was initiating an inquiry to establish exactly how that would be done. This is very much to be welcomed, as we are all aware of the involvement of senior civil servants in the decision-making process and policy determination. We also need a paper trail to check how something fits in with general Government policy. It would be very helpful if the Minister for Finance came before us to explain the terms of reference for the proposed inquiry which I welcome. We could also discuss with him the terms of reference for the banking inquiry, an issue raised by my colleagues in Fine Gael two or three times in the past month or two. The Minister indicated at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service that he was willing to discuss the issue, take advice, listen to views and consult on it, which would be very helpful.

I do not know if the Cathaoirleach has noticed that there is a time in the month when suddenly there is a surge of activity on the part of political parties, namely, on the Monday and Tuesday prior to publication of a Red C poll. This week we have seen a surge of activity on the part of the Green Party which is having a go on the issue of planning, at the Labour Party and other matters. There is nothing particularly wrong with this, but we have seen how polling can be corrupted and perverted and exert a destabilising influence on parties, politics and the people. I wonder if we should have a view on this issue and communicate with The Sunday Business Post. It might be better if it published the findings of the poll at a different time every month because it is creating a problem for the apparatchiks and political parties-----