Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The debate on legislation to establish the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform begins today, but the detail of that legislation raises major questions about the future business of the House. According to the Bill, the first stage of the new Estimates process will involve the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, proposing a net Estimates figure to the House which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, will then allocate to Departments. Will the Taoiseach indicate when it is proposed to hold the new Estimates vote and when Departments' Estimates are to be published, as well as the date on which the budget is scheduled to be announced?

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