Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The legislation establishing a Department for public expenditure and reform came through the House last week and is now in the Seanad. I note from the rota for parliamentary questions that the Minister without Portfolio, Deputy Brenda Howlin, will not make himself available to the Dáil before the summer recess. Recently, I read with interest that the Minister is presiding over key policy decisions at Cabinet level and yet we have waited a long time for the establishment of this Department.

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