Fine Gael/Labour seek overhaul of budgetary process
The two parties want to change the budgetary process to ensure a greater evaluation of the spending plans of government departments by the Dáil. The Dáil’s ability to scrutinise financial management is “pathetic”, according to Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton.
“You have the Estimates in November and then the Budget two weeks later, and no serious debate on the tax and spending policies they contain until the middle of the following year. Under our reforms, the whole context for Budget Day would be totally changed,” he said.
The goals would be to ensure proper evaluation of all policies and initiatives, insist on performance accountability where taxpayers’ money is involved, encourage innovation and reward success by civil servants charged with delivering public services. The parties claim their reforms would help avoid the spending debacles of recent years, including:
* The Dublin Port Tunnel, which was originally costed at €220 million but, according to Dublin City Council’s latest figures, will cost at least €685 million.
* The €52 million-plus bill for electronic voting machines deemed unsuitable and mothballed.
* The PPARS computer system for the health service, work on which was suspended after €150 million had been spent.
The parties say the reforms would also ensure that ministers would no longer be able to shirk responsibility for debacles such as the illegal nursing home charges levied by the State for almost 30 years, and which will cost the Government around €1 billion to repay.
Mr Bruton and Labour deputy leader Liz McManus coordinated the project, which follows on the parties’ call for reforms in the social partnership model last year. They followed that up with a call for Dáil reform in January.
Fine Gael and Labour will also publish a joint policy document on the status of Irish emigrants tomorrow.
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