Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In recent years this Bill has gone through without debate, but my understanding is that years before, the Appropriation Bill was the basis for debate in the House and for more serious consideration. Somehow along the way Governments since 1997 have allowed the situation to develop whereby there is no debate.

We have objected to this on several occasions, but these are very different times. It should be debated in any event, but in straitened times such as these there is a responsibility on this Chamber to address what is involved here, to look at what is being set aside in the different Departments, what is not being employed and used and what is proposed to be put back into the Central Fund. This is something on which we should have the opportunity to express an opinion and we should try to influence the decisions of Government and the various Departments. I commend the earlier practice of this House in addressing Appropriation Bills and I hope the Government accepts that proposal.

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