Vol. 436 No. 5
6 Dr. Upton asked the Taoiseach the total number of representations received by his Department since the formation of the Government from Members of the Oireachtas and the general public, respectively; and the cost of dealing with these representations.
My Department does not record, as a matter of course, general statistics of this nature. It is considered neither appropriate nor efficient to do so. I do not believe that the cost involved in compiling, at this stage, the information requested by the Deputy would be justified.
In view of the fact that about £1 million is spent each year in answering Dáil questions, would the Taoiseach accept that it would be worthwhile recording the number of representations involved and the cost of dealing with them? Does the Taoiseach believe that all the representations received by him and his Department are necessary? Has he given consideration to less expensive ways of dealing with representations other than by way of correspondence?
I have a responsibility and a duty to respond to citizens who make representations to me or my office. All of us may have our views as to the cost involved but we live in a democracy and people are entitled to information and attention if they request it. I am aware that the cost of dealing with each question is about £65 and this year alone in the region of 800 questions were put down to my Department. When the total cost is calculated that amounts to a large sum of money. In putting down questions Deputies must decide whether the information they request justifies the cost to the taxpayer. If the information can be found in another way that should be taken into consideration.
Would the Taoiseach agree that in dictatorial regimes there is no question of putting down parliamentary questions or making representations to the Prime Minister or anyone else? It is a fundamental part of democracy that people have access, by way of Dáil questions or otherwise, to the Taoiseach and the Government of the day. Would the Taoiseach agree that it would be absolutely undemocratic to do as suggested by a member of the Labour Party and to restrict in any way the right of the public to write to the Taoiseach or any Minister and to restrict the rights of Members to table Dáil questions?
I did not suggest that.
I have put on record my views in this regard and I have nothing further to add.
Would the Taoiseach agree that in all these matters it is the value of the question rather than the cost that we should be concerned about? Would he further agree that even if questions were not put down it is unlikely that a large number of staff would be let go or Deputies would be paid a lower salary? The costs will be incurred in any event. The system of putting down questions is one of the few opportunities for Deputies to use their discretion and to have the public service work for them. The cost of dealing with questions is fixed rather than variable.
I do not fully accept that the costs are fixed. There are bound to be variable costs taking into consideration the overtime involved and the additional staff that may have to be employed to deal with these matters. Basically, the putting down of questions is part of our democracy and I have a duty and responsibility to respond to these questions.
After the Dear John letters all of us should be more efficient in the way we answer letters. Would the Taoiseach favour changing the format of Question Time to take questions without notice, as is the system in the House of Commons?
The Deputy is raising a new matter now.
We inherited everything from across the water and the time is long overdue when we should decide what we want. I certainly would not be in favour of copying a system just because it is operated in the House of Commons.
That system operates in Australia also.
I regard the operation of this House as far superior to that of the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Keating has to answer questions without notice.
Would the Taoiseach agree that in relation to the number and cost of questions, figures can be misleading? Would he agree that the media should bear in mind that Opposition spokesmen frequently find it necessary, because of the lottery system that operates here, to put down the same question four or five times in order to make sure it is reached and in that context figures can be very misleading?
Figures can be misleading. I understand the problems referred to by Deputy McDowell because I was on that side of the House at one time and I had to participate in that kind of lottery.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): The Taoiseach will be back here again.
I am very familiar with that system.
Obviously the Taoiseach will have the chance to be over here again shortly.
It is true that if Deputies want a reasonable chance of having their questions answered they have to put them down on a number of occasions. In those circumstances the figures may not correspond to the number of questions a Deputy wishes to have answered.
The Taoiseach said that the cost of dealing with each question is approximately £65. Has he information on whether there is a difference in the cost of questions put down for written reply and those put down for oral reply?
I do not have that information but if it is readily available I will send it to the Deputy.
Would the Minister agree——
Please, Deputies, we have dealt adequately with this question. It can be pursued in many other ways.
——that supplementaries are absolutely free?
I have a personal interest in reform of the House and I would like to ask the Taoiseach about the change that has taken place since the forming of this Government, particularly in regard to priority questions. Depending on the sensitivity of the question, the reply may range from one to five pages, involving much unnecessary research. Would the Taoiseach therefore ask Minister to have regard to the cost of replies, particularly to priority questions, in terms of the extensive research that is undertaken?
The matter of dealing with priority questions has been referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and is at present before that committee.
An extra five minutes is given to priority questions. Regardless of the length of replies I give, I am accused that they are either to short or too long. You cannot win.
The Taoiseach learned a lesson in that he is now giving short answers and I admire him for it, but some Ministers are long-winded, as the Taoiseach well knows.
