James Bannon
Ceist:64 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport his plans to develop the aviation industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46416/08]
Other Questions.
Air Services.
Ireland's aviation policy, as set out in my Department's current statement of strategy, is to promote regular, safe, cost-effective and competitive air services linking the country with key business and tourism markets.
To this end, within the European Union, Ireland has consistently supported market liberalisation measures, which have, to date, served as the platform for the rapid expansion of aviation generally. We have also sought to influence the emerging EU and wider international framework for aviation to ensure that it continues to promote competition and innovation in the marketplace.
The introduction of the EU-US open skies agreement and the conclusion of a more liberal agreement on a bilateral basis with Canada illustrates our commitment to supporting liberalisation measures.
Our approach to the encouragement of air services is complemented by our policy on the development of airport infrastructure within the country. The main objective is to ensure that the three State airports have sufficient capacity to respond to the growth opportunities of a competitive airline sector and to provide vital international access. The opening of terminal 2 at Dublin Airport in early 2010 will allow Dublin Airport to comfortably handle up to 35 million passengers per year and will create a vibrant modern airport that will be an efficient gateway to the Ireland of the 21st century.
In addition, the six regional airports have a role to play in facilitating access to the regions. My Department provides financial support for airport development and operations as well as for PSO services connecting Kerry, Galway, Knock, Sligo, Donegal and Derry to Dublin.
Is it not a fact that the number of tourists from Britain has dropped significantly in the past year? The figure is down 17%. Is it not the case that the Minister's airport departure tax of €2 per passenger travelling to the United Kingdom will have an adverse impact on this decreasing number? Does the Minister not think he should do away with that tax? It is affecting profitability on routes for the main airlines and it affects people's pockets, particularly when their income is reducing.
I do not accept that. The airport departure tax is not in play at the moment and it cannot be causing the fall in tourist numbers.
It will. That is a facetious answer.
I could claim that the question is somewhat facetious if the Deputy talks about an airport tax when he asked about Irish aviation policy.
The Minister would not take my question.
The Deputy will allow the Minister to respond.
It has not had any effect on tourism numbers. I expect that passenger numbers will reduce as they are currently reducing. That has more to do with the international economic situation and the recession we now face. I do not accept for a minute that the airport tax will be the deciding factor as to whether people travel in and out of this country.
In the Minister's replies to questions put to him by the transport spokespersons, he mentioned aviation policy and Government policy in respect of maximum connectivity. Over the past few days we have had good news and bad news. In my own mid-west region we have seen 200 jobs announced for an American company in Ennis. The company is there because there is a daily direct transatlantic service which is very important. On the other hand, we have seen job losses because Heathrow was a very important hub of connectivity for the region. I know the Minister has had discussions with the airlines, particularly with Aer Lingus and Ryanair in recent days. Michael O'Leary mentioned that he would restore the Shannon-Heathrow slots in the event of his takeover bid proving successful.
The last time I questioned the Minister, I asked about the border customs protection facility and he told me he would make an announcement shortly, which he did two days later. Is the restoration of the Shannon-Heathrow service by Aer Lingus imminent and has the Minister had discussions with Aer Lingus in this regard? The news on the ground is that there may be an announcement before the end of the week. If there is, I hope the Minister will return to Shannon, make that announcement and act as Santa Claus for Christmas.
I do not think I would make a good Santa Claus. With regard to the Shannon-Heathrow route and the different meetings I have had with different representatives of Aer Lingus in the past 12 months, I have never failed to highlight that issue. I have also discussed it on a number of occasions with our own directors on the board of Aer Lingus to try to ensure that the link, which is important, is restored. Again, we are back to the same situation as before. At the end of the day, it is a commercial decision that Aer Lingus will have to make.
Does the Minister expect Aer Lingus to make a decision shortly?
I can only go by what was said in public some weeks back, when Dermot Mannion of Aer Lingus indicated at a meeting in Shannon that it was considering increasing the number of short haul flights. I can only hope.
The Minister knows more than that.
With regard to aviation policy, is it the Minister's intention to produce a Green Paper? One of the core issues of that policy is the State Airports Act 2004. Will that now be repealed having regard to the separation of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports? There seems to be some row-back on this and a feeling that on economic grounds it should not proceed. What is the Minister's view?
On a related point regarding the investment we have made in the three national airports, is it not the case that the Ryanair company has been bitterly opposed to Terminal 2 at Dublin, the new facility at Cork and the additional facilities at Shannon? Do these issues concerning the past history of Ryanair concern the Minister given that the general plan in Dublin is for Aer Lingus to use Terminal 2?
That is a very broad question with many extra wings to it. I will allow Deputy O'Donnell to raise a brief supplementary question.
To follow on from what Deputy Breen has said, has the Minister sought a meeting with Dermot Mannion given the media speculation at the weekend with regard to the restoration of the Aer Lingus Shannon-Heathrow route? Will he seek a meeting with his directors on the board of Aer Lingus to ensure there is certainty on this and that we get a date as to when this vital connectivity for Shannon and the mid-west region, including Limerick, is restored?
There are no plans to repeal the State Airports Act. The state of play is that the business plans have been submitted, the DAA commentary on the business plans has been submitted and the two airports, Shannon and Cork, have also submitted letters to me stating their views of the proposal to have separation at this point in time. Both airports remain committed to the concept of separation. The three chairpersons and the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority are currently in discussions and I expect them to make contact with me over the next few days to try to finalise this particular matter.
With regard to the investment in airports, it is a fair portrayal of the situation to say that on most occasions every proposed investment in the airports, particularly Dublin Airport, has been opposed by Ryanair, which believes that the Dublin Airport Authority is gold-plating everything in regard to Terminal 2, Pier D and so on. I had the discussion with representatives of Ryanair not that long ago that Government would see the airports, particularly Dublin Airport because of its size——
And Cork and Shannon.
Particularly Dublin. They are the gateway to Ireland and are the first impression people get of Ireland. It is particularly important that we have good facilities and I am committed to that.
I have not sought any meeting with Dermot Mannion. He sought a meeting with me last week and I had discussions with him at that stage.
Did he tell the Minister anything with regard to the restoration of the route? The Minister should give us details.
Departmental Review.
Shane McEntee
Ceist:65 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Transport the reason half the number of business customers who, as reported in the organisation review programme carried out on his Department, made a complaint to his Department in late 2005 and early 2006 have not had their complaint resolved; the nature of those complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46472/08]
The reference in the organisation review programme report is to a finding in our business customer survey for 2005-06, which surveyed 328 business customers and found that of 47 who had made a complaint, over half had not had their complaint resolved at the time of the survey. As the survey was carried out on an anonymous basis it is not possible at this stage to identify either the business customers concerned or the nature of their complaints.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department makes every effort to ensure that all complaints are dealt with and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some areas where we have made improvements for our business customers. In May 2008, the Department introduced a new on-line facility that enables approved motor dealers notify vehicle ownership changes to the national vehicle and driver file, NVDF, over the Internet. The new on-line service at www.motortrans.ie presents an alternative to paper-based arrangements. In addition, the processing time for road transport operator licences has decreased from approximately 20 working days in 2006 to under five, and changes or additions to licences from ten working days in 2006 to two. Furthermore, following decentralisation to Loughrea in May 2007, the public office opening hours were extended by 1.5 hours per day.
It is a serious issue to suggest that having made their complaints to the Department of Transport, its business customers have not had them resolved after two years. While I accept the survey may have been anonymous, is there a complaints system or process within the Department so it can track its business customers' complaints? If there was, I am sure they would not have waited two years for these issues to be resolved. Does the Department record all communications with regard to complaints?
The systems that operate in the Department are similar to the ones that operate in the Minister's office in that all communications are recorded when they come in and where they go in the system is also recorded. We endeavour to ensure that replies are given. It is possible that when people do not get the answer they want, they regard the issue as not being resolved. The 23 people of 328 who say it was not resolved are not necessarily saying they did not get a reply; they may not have got the reply they wanted.
Two years later, they were not happy.
With regard to the efficiency of the Department, how far has decentralisation progressed and what percentage of the staff are now decentralised?
The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question. I do not expect the Minister to have that briefing before him.
To answer generally, the major portion of the decentralisation, which was the move of the Road Safety Authority and the haulage licence section to Loughrea, is now complete. We were also to move some of our operations in maritime safety to Drogheda but because of the stage it was at, it will not go ahead until 2011 under the review. We complied with all of the deadlines and we are probably one of the better Departments in regard to decentralisation.
The staff in the Department are probably too decentralised and one of the complaints is that they are in far too many buildings. There is only one case in which an assistant secretary and all his staff are located in one building. Therefore, there is a significant lack of communication and efficiency. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, will explain in answer to a later question how he intends to reduce the number of premises from six to three.
The Deputy is correct and I do not know how this situation arose. The transport portfolio has been shifted from place to place and from Department to Department and we have ended up with six buildings. It is totally unsatisfactory. We hope that during the course of next year we will resolve the matter and reduce the number to three.
Road Traffic Offences.
Michael Ring
Ceist:66 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport his views on the issue of driving under the influence of drugs; and the measures, in conjunction with other Departments, he will take in this regard. [40849/08]
Driving under the influence of intoxicants, which includes prescription, non-prescription drugs and alcohol, is one of the primary causes of road fatalities and a serious road safety issue.
The Road Traffic Acts provide for the testing of drivers under the influence of drugs. If a garda is of the opinion that a driver is under the influence of a drug or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a vehicle, he or she may require that person to attend a Garda station, and further require that person to submit to a blood test or provide a urine sample.
The Medical Bureau of Road Safety is keeping abreast of developments in the area of preliminary roadside testing for drugs, but there is as yet no reliable system available. In the meantime, the road traffic and transport Bill, currently being drafted, includes provisions for field impairment testing, that is, non-technological methods by which the Garda could look for the presence of drugs. The Bill is expected to be published early next year.
The Minister for Health and Children, in collaboration with the Road Safety Authority, recently launched a new road safety leaflet entitled Medicines and the Driver. The new leaflet highlights the effects that prescription and non-prescription medicines can have on a person's ability to drive safely. The leaflet also gives advice on how to avoid driving under the influence of medicines. I understand the Road Safety Authority hopes to collaborate in an initiative with the pharmacy sector shortly, whereby such information will feature on the bags used by pharmacy outlets.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have been very concerned, as have my constituents and people throughout the country, with the very significant increase in the number of people taking drugs in every town, village and county in the country. I spoke with some doctors this morning and we discussed the admission into psychiatric hospitals of people who have taken drugs. If this is happening, there must be more people driving under the influence of drugs. I welcome the compulsory testing measures for drink driving. The time has come in Ireland and every other country to put a test in place. There must be compulsory testing on a regular basis of people driving under the influence of drugs. There is no doubt there are hundreds of people killed in the country every year by people who have taken drugs and who subsequently walk away. We do not have the relevant figures. How close are we to having some compulsory drug testing in the country both for drivers and in the workplace?
I used to have responsibility for the drugs strategy and I am aware of the issues referred to by the Deputy. At present, there is no recognised system by which the Garda can test people on the road. In some countries throughout the world trials are ongoing and we will wait and see how they develop. Such trials are not at the stage where they could be in place on a legal basis, because various people in the courts and elsewhere would drive a coach and four through arguments based on such trials. Part of the function of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is to keep abreast of developments in that regard. As soon as there is a reliable roadside test for drugs, we will change the legislation to allow its implementation. I agree with Deputy Ring. There is mandatory testing for alcohol but not for drugs, which is illogical. However, we cannot proceed until such time as the system is in place. The new legislation will help the Garda to request that people walk in a straight line and so on.
A Medical Bureau of Road Safety study found that one in three drivers who test negative for alcohol test positive for drugs. Hibernian Insurance carried out a survey the results of which indicated one fifth of drivers under 35 years of age were under the influence. The Minister of State indicated there are no operational drug tests anywhere in the world. However, they are in place in several Australian states, such as Queensland, where a major roadside drug testing policy is under way. Tasmania is introducing its policy involving a particle detection test. Can we not emulate such places and have this fundamental issue dealt with once and for all?
I accept trials are ongoing in different parts of the world.
They are not trials, they are tests.
They are not yet at a stage where they would stand up to a rigorous legal system.
The Minister of State should check it out.
The Medical Bureau of Road Safety is especially keen to keep abreast of such developments. As soon as such trials can stand up to such rigour, I hope they will be introduce as quickly as possible. Under the current system, if tests prove negative for alcohol, they are automatically tested for drugs. That is already in place. We wish to reach a stage where there is the equivalent of mandatory testing for drugs.
Only if the Garda is allowed.
That was exactly the point I intended to raise with the Minister of State. One year ago, the Minister promised he would introduce legislation on mandatory testing at the scenes of accidents. If this were introduced and included a provision whereby a blood sample is tested for other substances, it would give an accurate figure of those who are in accidents. Those are the people who would have taken more than most other people.
I intended to ask the question raised by Deputy O'Dowd. Is data available on people who were tested following accidents who did not fail an alcohol test but who were found to have taken drugs? Such data would show the amount of people tested. I agree with the remarks of Deputy O'Dowd. We must do something as this is a very serious problem. The country is rife with drugs and the problem is increasing in every section of society. Some people are driving like lunatics killing others on the roads and we must do something about it.
Hear, hear.
Such people should at least be charged or put in jail if another person is killed.
There is another parliamentary question tabled dealing with testing at the scene of accidents.
The Minister of State could deal with that now.
We will include measures related to that in the new Bill. Deputy Ring referred to people driving like lunatics. I accept there are some people using drugs and that we must deal with them. However, the number of road fatalities this year is reduced considerably from the numbers of previous years. While there are people transgressing the law who we wish to catch, we must accept that generally there is a good deal of buy in from many motorists who obey the law.
Public Transport.
Leo Varadkar
Ceist:67 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport his views on recent figures showing a drop in the number of people taking buses in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46487/08]
Dublin Bus passenger numbers have increased from 134.2 million in 2000 to 147 million in 2007. This increase was achieved despite the introduction of the Luas and improved suburban rail services in the greater Dublin area. Dublin Bus is the largest operator of bus services in that area. In the course of the past year, passenger numbers on its services have declined by approximately 4%. Passenger numbers on suburban rail and the Luas are also experiencing a drop in demand. Various reasons are suggested to explain this situation. These include the general economic downturn, reduced shopping in the city centre area and fewer migrant workers living in the city centre area. This drop in demand is despite the marketing efforts of the company, which has implemented a campaign through the media and directly to households advocating the benefits of travelling by bus and the value for money which is available.
The cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, carried out by Deloitte, is expected shortly and I understand that it will advise that, while many aspects of the operations of Dublin Bus are efficient, there is further potential for efficiency gain to attract more people on to the bus. On the basis of the ultimate findings and recommendations of the review, Dublin Bus will be mandated to target overall operational efficiencies including changes to its network to simplify routes and eliminate duplication, to improve timetables and to improve co-ordination of services on common route corridors and to introduce other customer orientated initiatives.
One point is the gridlock in Dublin city causes a problem for buses as well as for everyone else and consequently, bus travel speeds are reducing all the time. In many cases, it would be quicker to walk, if possible, and it certainly would be much more efficient were one to cycle. I accept there are reasons for the decline in usage and fewer migrants using public transport appears to be an issue. Nevertheless, the modal shift that Government policy has been promising has not happened. The key point is the Minister's policies have failed and, as I have pointed out previously, the Circle Line buses have been taken off the route. More than 30 buses are sitting idle and are parked forever because Dublin Bus has put them out of business. This simply is not good enough. New thinking is needed in the Department as the Minister's policies have failed in this regard.
I am unsure whether the Deputy asked a question, as that sounded more like a statement.
It means the Minister's policies are not working.
I imagine the Deputy is asking whether the Minister agrees with him.
No, I do not. The Deputy is aware the Department has introduced the Dublin Transportation Authority Act, which now is in place and will be rolled out. The question of competition in the market is dealt with in that Act and will be dealt with in the next national public transport plan.
Deputy O'Dowd may have inadvertently misled the House when he referred to a private company. I understand that a large part of the fleet in question is engaged in coach work and other tasks in hand and that the services it no longer fulfils were in addition to its core business.
Obviously, the 4% decline is disappointing. Does the Minister, who mentioned the network, envisage that the frequency and reliability of services could be increased? When operating a major public transport system, a major problem arises in respect of what to do with the fleet during off-peak hours. People have asked questions on this subject, which affects both private and public fleets. How does one cope during off-peak hours? Has the Department made proposals in this regard? I refer to ways to increase the usage of the fleets, particularly in urban areas.
Undoubtedly, the frequency and more particularly the reliability of a service are extremely important. I refer to frequency in the sense that one can predict when a bus will come. Once this is available to customers, people are encouraged to use the service. For example, on some of the quality bus corridors, QBCs, the service is reliable, there is the same headroom between each bus and so on. When such certainty exists, people use the service and in some cases this can result in an increase in usage of up to 40%. Consequently, there is a need for major change in the manner in which Dublin Bus operates. There is no question about that. Matters such as the frequency of the service, the operation of the networks, co-ordination of the services along the core corridors, direct routing and additional cross-city services all will be extremely important, as will real-time information in order that people will know when and where a particular bus will come. All such measures will be important in efforts to increase usage.
I wish to facilitate brief supplementary questions from Deputy Broughan, followed by Deputy O'Dowd.
The Minister rightly referred to the Dublin Transportation Authority, which is of great importance to public transport. When will it become operational? Members spent a considerable amount of time discussing the legislation in committee rooms and so on. Are the provisions pertaining to planning, that is, all new development will have the integrated public transport function at its centre, effectively operational since the Act became law? The Minister referred to how the fleet could be better utilised and it also must be expanded. Would the Minister consider a differential fare structure, with much lower fares applying during the off-peak period to encourage people to use buses?
The Minister stated that Dublin Bus must change, which is true. Does the Minister agree there must be a much more proactive policy from Dublin Bus to use the private sector at peak times to use spare capacity? It does not make sense to have the buses to which I referred parked on a lot somewhere in County Kildare while at the same time, Dublin Bus buses, in their original livery colour and with 1997 registrations, are providing public transport on the streets of some British cities. I have photographs of this.
The question of what to do during off-peak hours certainly is an issue. The Deputy's suggestion certainly could be considered by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann uses quite a number of private subcontractors throughout the company. The off-peak issue also raises the question of work practices in Dublin Bus that must be addressed in respect of how one uses one's resources. As for Deputy Broughan's point, rather than more buses, capacity has increased by well over 30% and passenger numbers are falling. Consequently, it is not a question of not having the buses. Perhaps it is a question of not deploying——
For five or six years, between 2000 and 2005, not a single bus was bought.
Allow the Minister to reply.
I can show the Deputy the figures. Bus capacity has increased by 30%.
The Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, remembers this. For a major portion of the lifetime of the Government, it refused to buy a bus.
Allow the Minister to respond.
Capacity has increased by 30% while passenger numbers are falling.
The simple question that must be asked is whether the buses available are being deployed to the best effect. The answer is "No" and this must be addressed to increase the numbers. Deputy O'Dowd's earlier point on congestion certainly is one of the causes of the problem of the service's unreliability. I refer to the scenario in which no buses come for a long time and then two or three come at once. Congestion is a factor that is outside the control of CIE, Bus Éireann or Bus Átha Cliath.
Departmental Agencies.
I am conscious that the matter raised by Question No. 68 also has been dealt with as Priority Question No. 61. However, in accordance with the rules of the House, it also has been tabled as a number of ordinary questions. For clarity, the Minister will reply to Questions Nos. 68, 73 and 117 together. Members could go through the Minister's reply again.
Joe Carey
Ceist:68 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take to significantly improve oversight of agencies under his Department’s aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46428/08]
Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:73 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for Transport if he has met the board and senior management of all 37 agencies under the aegis of his Department; the outcome of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46470/08]
Enda Kenny
Ceist:117 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the reason structured meetings with board and senior management of all agencies under his Department’s aegis are not held regularly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46468/08]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 73 and 117 together.
I have nothing to add to my earlier answer.
The key point is this constitutes a criticism of the lack of oversight by the Department. Many of the transport services the taxpayer pays for through the Minister are dealt with by State and semi-State agencies. The criticism is there is inadequate oversight of them. To be specific the commentary is there is no consensus among agencies of the Department as to whether the latter should have a role in monitoring these services.
Does the Deputy have a question?
Does the Minister not agree this leads to inefficiencies and wastage of money? I refer to the lack of oversight and the consequential lack of accountability and transparency regarding the billions of euro that are being spent on Transport. There is no oversight of them.
The report stated that the Department of Transport makes every effort to ensure compliance with the code of governance by the agencies. The Department's responsibility is to ensure they comply with those codes. The report suggests the Department must adopt a strategic approach to the governance of the agencies, particularly in the context of the large number and variety of agencies under its aegis. It suggests structured meetings with the boards and that the Department should give them a clearer mandate as to what it expects from the agencies. It also suggests the Department should focus more on performance management and monitoring of the outcomes of those agencies and that it should try to improve the data flows from the agencies. The Department has addressed all four points in the initiative I instigated earlier this year to which I referred previously. I intend to implement the recommendations in this regard.
I understand the report states the Department must adopt a clear stance on customer services by its agencies. It states it is important that it considers this issue at a strategic level and develops a coherent viewpoint that is understood by all of its staff and all of its agencies. Clearly, there is a continuing serious problem in this regard.
That means the Department should monitor the outcomes, not that it should respond to every complaint that is made by the public to the Department——-
I am not suggesting the Department should do that.
——which is what it is doing.
It would be remiss of us during this debate not to state that many of the agencies we are talking about are doing a superb job. In particular, I would cite the Road Safety Authority. It is outstanding, as are some of the outcomes it is achieving with great difficulty. I commend the Minister of State with responsibility for the agency, Deputy Noel Ahern, who is here with us today.
One of the big problems with all of those agencies is that they are not answerable directly to this House. This is an issue which goes to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and to the Ceann Comhairle, and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Unlike the House of Commons, we cannot raise issues, for example, such as the port tunnel in the case of the NRA and some of the safety issues in the case of the RSA. The Ceann Comhairle turned down eight or ten questions in this current batch from me and Labour Party colleagues such as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on the basis that the Minister cannot talk about the agencies. In the House of Commons, the former Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon. Ruth Kelly, spoke about any issue to do with transport. The present Secretary of State, Rt Hon. Geoff Hoone, who I watched a few days ago, speaks on any issue to do with transport on policy grounds irrespective of whether it relates to an agency.
The 30th Dáil was supposed to be a reforming Dáil. Deputy O'Dowd feels the same as I do. We were supposed to have a reformed Dáil whereby answers on all transport issues in broad policy could be obtained through the Minister. Has this Minister any objection in principle to answering the policy questions on the NRA or any of his Department's other agencies? If those agencies are not answerable to this House, then we have a major problem. That, I think, is the thrust of the Fine Gael question.
I thank Deputy Broughan.
I am responsible in this House for policy on the agencies and I am answerable to it. The agencies are responsible and answerable to the House through the committees as well. They are also answerable through the Committee of Public Accounts.
Why turn down questions?
The types of questions generally turned down in the Ceann Comhairle's office are ones that ask about specific operational matters for which we are clearly not responsible.
That is just a cop-out.
While transport is not one of my portfolios, it is important that I rise to support the comments of Deputies O'Dowd and Broughan.
This is actually Question Time. I hope Deputy Morgan intends to pose a question.
Should we really expect the Minister to answer questions given that the very purpose of bringing in these agencies was that Ministers would not have to answer questions? It is most unlikely that the Minister will change his mind and begin answering questions.
Deputy Morgan is welcome to intervene, even if transport is not one of his briefs. If he was here for all of the other Question Times he would be aware that his two colleagues on the other side have always held me to account very ably.
In the 90 seconds we have left, there is no point in moving on to another question. I will allow a brief final supplementary question on this from Deputy O'Dowd.
We need a sea change in this area. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Broughan. The criticism of the Department and, indeed, of the Minister, is that he is not doing his job and does not have oversight of these bodies. Is it not a fact that the Department is divided as to whether these bodies should be accountable to the Minister?
There is no division at all. These bodies are accountable to me.
The report states they are not.
They actually are accountable to me. They report to me and we have in place, from the middle of this year, even stronger accountability procedures on reporting to me directly. I have no difficulty with them.
That concludes questions for today.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.