Vol. 415 No. 9
12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he proposes to introduce any system for (a) the briefing of non-Government parties on public business and (b) allowing non-Government parties confidential access to official reports in costing of policy proposals similar to the access enjoyed by the two Government parties during the recent renegotiation of their inter-party agreement.
I am happy to agree formally to the practice, followed on a number of occasions in the past, where non-Government political parties can have policy proposals costed, on a confidential basis, by the relevant Government Department or Departments, generally the Department of Finance.
It has also been the practice, from time to time, for the Government, usually through the Taoiseach, to have confidential consultations with Opposition parties, usually with their leaders, on specific public issues of particular importance. I propose to continue that practice.
Otherwise, I am not clear what the Deputy has in mind since the normal Dáil procedures provide a variety of means where the Government inform the Opposition parties about Government policies on public issues.
I thank the Taoiseach for officially confirming the practice in regard to the costing on a confidential basis of policy proposals, a useful proposal no matter what way one looks at it. I also welcome his statement in regard to briefing Opposition parties through their leaders. Would he agree that, if any such future discussions are to be mooted, it would be wiser if the basis upon which these discussions were to take place was cleared in advance of any public announcement?
I do not know what the Deputy is getting at. I will be as accommodating as possible in briefing Opposition leaders.
