Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

The Tory Government is certainly not the inspiration for the Minister's actions. As far as the Department of public expenditure and reform is concerned, all information on public expenditure belongs to the public and should be available for public use. The Department's aim is to put Ireland at the leading edge in terms of openness and transparency of public data. The Department's website already includes general information on all aspects of public expenditure and reform, including an overview of general expenditure trends since 1994 and an outline of the main priorities for public service reform.

Senator Thomas Byrne and others rightly observed that the Minister has already moved swiftly on the issues encompassed in the first part of this amendment. In particular, the Government has agreed on the introduction of a general pay ceiling of €200,000 for future appointments to higher positions across the public service and a general pay ceiling of €250,000 for future appointments to chief executive officer posts within commercial semi-State bodies. We have also taken action in regard to Government pay.

The second part of Senator Byrne's amendment, in regard to procurement purchase orders, requires a more substantial response.

The Department has now launched a new databank website that provides comprehensive information on every aspect of Government expenditure during the years. The Department plans to make available further information in the near future and over time. The Department of public expenditure and reform will place all appropriate information in the hands of the public via the new databank. In addition to historical and annual information, it is intended that monthly Exchequer data, general Government expenditure data and the purchase orders made by each Department and Government agency will be made available for public scrutiny. This approach will encompass the information the Senator is seeking. Therefore, I do not consider it appropriate to agree to the necessity of accepting the proposed amendment.