Moorhead report and procurement
Senator Horkan then called for publication of the Moorhead report and for an early debate on it after publication. He also criticised printer procurement and the handling of public spending, stressing value for money.
On another point which I raised last week, we were all supportive of the Moorhead report being published. Again, I am not pushing an amendment on the matter and I am aware that it will be before an the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government tomorrow. However, it must be published because we need sight of it.
We need the councillors of Ireland to see what is on offer. It may not be great but I have no idea. I hope it is great but I would not advise people to take out mortgages or loans against what they might get from it.
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It is important that we see it and that we debate it as soon as possible in the House after it is published. I hope the Leader can find out from the Minister when we will see that.
We cannot leave the next issue unsaid. The story of the printer in the Houses of the Oireachtas is unfortunate. It is not something any of us caused.
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I accept that. People say this is in Leinster House when we all know it is across the road in Kildare House.
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It is a matter for the commission.
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The Senator will have to watch his tone.
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I am not saying anybody did this deliberately but when this kind of mistake in expenditure happens, we should probably not just gloss over it and pretend it did not happen. The Leader knows this and it is important to say that when we spend the State's resources, however that is done, we should try to get the best value for money.