Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and I thank Senator Ó Céidigh for introducing this Bill. It has generated a good debate on the important issue of the governance of semi-State and State bodies and boards or, as the Minister stated, quangos. The Minister comprehensively outlined how the governance of these bodies will be pursued from now on and why there is no great need for the Bill. I agree with majority of what he said. I agree that a single line of accountability in Departments is best, whereby these boards would be answerable to the line Minister. However, I must point out that over the years I have found that many State and semi-State bodies have appeared to be answerable to nobody at times. On numerous occasions when Members of this House and the Dáil have tried to get answers to questions on some issues, the relevant line Minister took no responsibility and stated that the particular matter fell outside his or her remit or that of the Houses and that the State board or body was not answerable to him or her. The Minister should examine that aspect of governance.

The Minister said that from 2016 these bodies will report every five years. I welcome that and I appreciate what the Government has done in this regard. I hope that when these reports are produced, the line Ministers will review those relating to the State boards or bodies under their remit. The reports should be laid before the Houses or brought before the Seanad. The Seanad is an ideal forum in which to review them. There is sufficient expertise and experience in this House to review any Bill or report. Members represent political parties as well as sectors such as education, labour and commerce. Those Senators from the various panels or parties that put them forward are capable of asking the questions that are relevant to the various bodies in their areas.

Again, I thank Senator Ó Céidigh. Governance in the State boards and bodies is particularly important. The previous Government had to bring many of the State boards into line and make them bring their wages and management into line with the rules of the various Departments. I welcome everything that has been done, as well as the five-year reviews that will take place. This is an ideal forum to debate those reports as part of the governance. It will ensure there is accountability for the reports that are brought forward, that the buck will stop somewhere and that somebody can ask a question. The Seanad is the ideal forum for that.