Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of amendments in this section. I anticipate the Minister's concerns over my amendment No. 6 and I will be happy to work around it. It suggests that the report the Minister receives from the controller should be made publicly available. It comes to the same crucial question. If we are to have this knowledge box and it is an expenditure, as it is, the case for it needs to be made and reviewed on a continual basis. We need to be able to stand over it as part of our public expenditure. It is about getting some information on how it is progressing. I suggest the report should be made publicly available.

There is a concern over transparency. We talked extensively about commercial sensitivity. While commercial sensitivity must be respected, as legislators we have responsibility for public accountability. I will be happy to withdraw the amendment in order to discuss what the Minister thinks might be appropriate to have a report publicly available. I can then resubmit the amendment or a variation of it on Report Stage. I ask the Minister to outline how she envisages the public accessing appropriate information on how the knowledge box is being used, its benefits and its uptake. We need ongoing transparency in that regard.

I have another amendment, amendment No. 9, in this section. I understand we will discuss amendment No. 10 separately. Is that correct?