Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply; I wish him well in his office and congratulate him on his appointment. I had not done so in the Chamber yet. He has an onerous task before him.

I take it the Vote officers in the sectoral policy division will be transferred to the new Department so that the detailed supervision of expenditure on an ongoing basis will be the responsibility of the new Department.

I would like to probe the question of the overall envelope, which will be set by the Minister for Finance. I take it that overall envelope will be subject to a Government decision collectively agreed by the Government and implemented by the new Minister. At what stage in the budgetary cycle will that matter come before the Government?

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