Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

There are a variety of ways depending on the specific legislation referred to in terms of process. For example, section 16 Part 2 of Schedule 3 lists a number of enactments under which the Minister for Finance shall not pay moneys out of the Central Fund unless it is specifically requested by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are other areas where I would make the request of the Minister on behalf of a line Minister.

The Deputy is correct in that there will be a requirement for a paper trail in this regard. A formal request would be made to comply with this legislation. This is not new. The consent of the Minister for Finance in regard to expenditure is a norm. Any line Minister expending money would be expected to have the formal consent of the Minister for Finance, but this is how this scenario will work. As I do not know whether the House has debated the issue, I will address it using broad strokes. The spending envelope will be fixed by the Minister for Finance in consultation with me. I will then negotiate the Estimates process on a departmental basis and we will agree a package to be put before the Government. It is a good, co-ordinated method that will ensure double oversight.

To address Deputy McDonald's point, the two Ministers and Departments have worked in great harmony to date. Despite my lack of legal authority, I have had a most harmonious relationship with the Minister for Finance who has signed off legally on my decisions to date. I look forward to being able to exercise these decisions in my own right shortly.

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