Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The McCarthy report contained a number of recommendations. I am pleased to hear the Labour Party supports some of them. They provide the background against which budgetary decisions were taken this year and they will continue to be considered in the context of any further work that is to be done. Specifically on the matters raised by the Deputy, I do not recall a discussion on procurement plans being brought forward by individual Departments. I will have to check whether they were sent to the Department of Finance directly. I will revert to the Deputy.

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