Madam Deputy Speaker, hon President, hon Deputy President, the ID supports the creation of two Ministries in the Presidency. We have always said that monitoring, evaluation and planning have been the largest weaknesses in government over the past 15 years. It is hoped that these Ministries will improve the pace and quality of service delivery and make a real difference in the lives of our people.
We are looking forward to engaging with you on the promised White Paper on the structure and direction of the National Planning Commission. It is our hope that the commission will generate a long-term vision for our country, taking into account the massive, global challenges that will occur in the next 30 years. The mark of successful countries has been their ability to position themselves based on their accurate anticipation of global changes.
We have always recognised that we are living in extremely difficult times and we welcome your Presidency's willingness to engage in debate with us on the challenges that we face. The best way we can deal with this crisis is through listening to all sides, and we hope that this willingness to engage constructively will continue.
In this regard, Mr President, the ID believes that we need to review the speaking time allocated to opposition parties in this Parliament. We cannot make a proper contribution in one or two minutes. We have raised this issue with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, and we hope that the Chief Whips in Parliament will address this as a matter of urgency.
Mr President, debate and engagement are important, but we also need to see concrete action. I get the sense that the country is ready to move forward. We therefore hope that the Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation and Administration in the Presidency will ensure that planning translates into implementation.
Lastly, the ID would like to call on you, Mr President, to be true to your promise of a new ethos in government that is based on performance, and an attitude of no tolerance when it comes to crime and corruption. The ID supports the budget. I thank you. [Applause.]