Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

During his career, Deputy Paul McGrath may discover that there are certain privileges and discretions which a Taoiseach enjoys but which a Minister does not.

My proposals simply aim to improve, in practical terms, participation in or contributions to the budgetary process by other Members. No Minister for Finance would transfer control of the budgetary process to an Opposition, even one that would claim to be as enlightened as the current Opposition. There will be some practical ideas that we can take forward in the medium term with a view to introducing more long-term reforms following more detailed consideration. A debate should take place and I would like it to be more productive because no Member is in permanent control of his or her seat at any given time.

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