Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a matter for the Minister, Deputy Howlin. I do not have the role of controlling expenditure. Normally, what happens when edicts like that are issued is we might get the adjustment for one year but it does not change the base. It is like elastic - it goes back again the following year. What we need are base changes so the permanent base of expenditure is reduced. That is why the Minister is adopting the approach he is adopting. While it is €300 million this year, over the three-year cycle it is €1 billion, which is a significant base change.