Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Given what the Tánaiste said about maintaining capital growth and the national development plan, is he concerned about recent probes by the Garda and the Competition Authority into a €2.5 billion fraud on the taxpayer relating to capital contracts, including those procured through the Office of Public Works, OPW? While the Tánaiste shouted about the Opposition's alternative policies, I tried to suggest that the way to address some of the current problems may be to cut down on this kind of waste and inefficiency that sees the taxpayer overcharged and, it seems, massively defrauded. Has the Tánaiste taken an interest in this as it relates to his Department? Has he received reports on this and will he do anything about it?

Around the country the Health Service Executive is effectively proposing severe budget cuts, particularly on the operational side, allied to fairly crude bans on recruitment. At the same time the HSE's administrative budget is continuing to expand. Is the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance advising line Ministers and bodies like the HSE on making spending more effective and efficient?

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