Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 12, line 6, after “relevant” to insert “written”.

This amendment refers to advice and I have suggested that the word "relevant" is followed by "written". To publish or not was discussed at the Committee Stage. If the advice is written then there is a record. The Minister of State has pointed out that there could be delays in publication and the example was given of international journal publication which is a difficult and complex process.

The amendment is proposed because of what became evident during the banking inquiry. Many people said they saw the crisis coming and that they advised accordingly, yet Mr. Nyberg, Mr. Regling and Mr. Watson and others could not find any record of this advice. Members may recall precedents in the past where one Minister for Health was told something in a lift in the Gresham Hotel. Policy making needs to happen on a much sounder basis. Nods and winks are not good enough and this is why the advice should be written down. If one believes there to be a problem, or no problem, then it should be written down so the Minister in question has a record. Matters have become too informal.

When the report on the banking inquiry is published it will show that this kind of informal "shrugging of the shoulders" way of deciding policy and saying after the event, "Of course I told them that", without a record of the advice which was given to the Minister, was prevalent throughout the banking inquiry. Everybody was wise after the event and excused themselves on the basis that the advice they gave was verbal and not written down. Ministers will have protection if advice is written. This amendment takes account of the response by the Minister at the last Stage. Advice must be put onto a much more scientific basis than some recent examples suggest.