Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for allowing me to share time to make some brief comments. In his presence I welcome the Luas extension to Cherrywood, a huge infrastructural development for a part of my constituency. It is to be commended as an example of proper infrastructural development in that the proposal will be put in advance of a major area plan in which residential units will be developed with other developments. I hope the DART signalling work will be an unobtrusive exercise, unlike the most recent upgrades.

The comments from Opposition parties are based largely on a perception of incorrect procedure. They suggest the Estimates, budget and Finance Bill should be amalgamated into one event. I can understand the reason they want this because successive Fianna Fáil-led Governments have had nothing but good news to share with the people on budget day in terms of what is contained in the Estimates and the Finance Bill. It must be galling for members of the Opposition to have to witness this and they must be envious. I am amazed they make the argument because it shows that the absence of anything substantial to attack in the Estimates forces them to resort to claims of incorrect procedure.

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