Fiach MacConghail (Independent)

In the one minute remaining to me, I strongly believe there are only words in the difference between what the Independent group seeks and the Government amendment. There are two issues I wish to tease out with the Minister within that minute. First, when he has made up his mind, can he publish his response to the public sector reform plan and put it into the public domain before it goes into the process in the way his ministerial colleagues in other Departments have done?

Second, the Minister's speech indicated clearly he has no intention of dismantling the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997. I note this and accept it is very close to what the Independent Senators seek. I absolutely agree with him, notwithstanding the periodic review of each and every cultural institution or body, that one must look for value for money and for efficiencies, but also and more importantly, for governance. While the aforementioned 1997 Act protects the governance, the Minister has every right to look for value and to investigate whether they work well, and indeed the Minister appoints them. The Minister said that dismantling the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 was never in his plans. If I can accept that as what the Minister is saying to me, I would consider that to be a sine qua non in terms of the arm's length principle.