Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely over three years. The system probably could not do it over one year. It is €800 million this year.

I also welcome the fact that the pension levy will be abolished at the end of 2015 and reduced to 0.15%. Senator Barrett referenced the need to reform and to continue to reform. He is right that reform is not, and cannot be, something that is only done in years of crisis. This Government, and the Oireachtas as a whole, must be evaluated on how it continues to reform in years of calm. That is why I think, to the credit of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the publication of a new comprehensive spending review is important. Spending must be reviewed in times of crisis. When one is fighting an economic fire one must review it, but reviewing it in years when it might be easier not to do so is important. Documentation from all Departments will be published on the website at the end of the week. The point that Senator Healy Eames made regarding greater scrutiny of performance outputs is valid. I hope that documentation will enable Oireachtas committees to continue to play a greater role, and I will discuss it with my colleagues at Cabinet level.