Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a few short comments and ask a question. It is a pity Deputy Kelleher and Deputy Troy are not here. They left in good time because I had intended to slate them. The reason we are here is the reckless spending of previous Governments over the past 15 years.

I started to read the organisations' budgets and presentations at 10 p.m. yesterday when I returned from canvassing for the referendum. I went to bed at 11.15 p.m. and got up at 5 a.m. today to continue reading them. I was astonished the Chairman would have nine groups before the committee today and wondered how we would deal with them. However, we are doing that because the Chairman has told us to do so.