Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The Deputy is right when he says the comprehensive review of expenditure is not completed. I am currently engaged in bilateral discussions and I do not want to pre-empt further questions which have yet to be reached.

I want to find a mechanism that would allow a greater debate in the House on this matter. I will be bringing proposals to Government to ensure there is engagement on the Estimates that is different from the traditional way, where we debate Estimates well into the year when a portion of the money is already spent.

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