Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is good to hear that.

I am thinking of the budget process each year, when people contact us about different aspects they want included in the Finance Bill.

Most people would suggest talking to the officials in the Department of Finance and putting the case. I am sure that could happen at principal officer or assistant principal officer level. A final decision is a matter for the Minister and Government, but that level is where the nuts and bolts of the work are done. That is why it is often more important to have such people covered by legislation.

I accept what the Minister said about Secretaries General and assistant secretaries. The chief executives of local authorities are the equivalent of Secretaries General.