Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Ceann Comhairle heard the Taoiseach's reply to my earlier question in connection with the recruitment embargo. He stated that all exceptions to the recruitment embargo would require the approval of the Minister for Finance. Do I take it, therefore, that as these issues arise, for example, there are nurses on short-term contracts which must be renewed, and where parliamentary questions are tabled arising from these decisions, that such questions should now be addressed to the Minister for Finance? Is my understanding of the position correct?

See this speech in context