Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 29:

In page 13, subsection (2), line 6, to delete "consult" and substitute "consult with each other".

Section 17 relates to the functions of economic planning and development that may be performed by the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The amendment clarifies that the Ministers should consult each other in the performance of these functions.

I do not know whether Deputy Sean Fleming has been around for long enough, but he will probably remember the old Department of Economic Planning and Development, which was an idea of Professor Martin O'Donoghue. Was the Deputy around at that stage?

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