Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Is it not the case that the change in the Department of Health and Children's Estimates, where it is reducing its approved capital spend and increasing its approved current spend, would need retrospective approval by the House? While the Minister's personal statement and his changes by order in respect of the carryover for capital spending is fine, it appears that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children would have to obtain approval from the Houses for the way she has changed her Estimates.

If that is the case, will we be seeing a presentation from the Minister to clarify what has happened? It seems quite extraordinary that money voted for capital purposes would without notice to anybody be spent on current purposes. As this is a point of order, I will not go into what that suggests about the way the Department is administering its money. I would like clarification of this point.

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