Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on public bodies using public time and resources to lobby against recommendations in the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme and Commission on Taxation 2009 reports; if he plans to issue a circular on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was established to make recommendations for savings on public expenditure and public service numbers with a view to restoring sustainability to the public finances. In the context of the 2010 Estimates process, Government Departments have been asked by my Department to identify options for making the necessary expenditure savings, taking into account the Special Group's proposals and any additional or alternative options of their own. However, decisions on all such options will be taken for the Government.

Similarly, the Commission on Taxation has prepared a Report setting out its recommendations for structural reforms in the taxation system, and the implementation of these recommendations will be a matter for Government to consider in the context of the annual budgetary process.

As regards the role of State bodies in this overall process, relevant bodies would be expected to contribute their views and analysis to inform the consideration of options by Departments, under whose aegis they operate, and in turn by the Government. More generally, State bodies are subject to oversight by the relevant Government Departments as regards their activities and expenditure, and are accountable to Dáil Éireann. Any specific queries or concerns about the use of public funds by particular public bodies would be a matter for the relevant Government Department to deal with in the first instance. Consequently, I have no plans for a circular at this stage although I take the point the Deputy is making.