Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Fifth, we will enhance the role of the Oireachtas for those in the Oireachtas who want to engage constructively in this process. All of these reforms support Oireachtas Members, as representatives of the public, in holding Government to account. The Government is also moving to a new whole of year budgetary timetable to allow for Dáil committees to engage earlier and more fully on Estimates allocations before they are settled in each year.

This Government is, in effect, a national Government containing the two largest parties in the State. It provides the stability necessary to plan and work our way out of this crisis. It will not be easy and we will not resolve our problems overnight. No Government, whatever its numbers, wants to be the bearer of bad news but our options are extremely limited. The public knows this. It is wary of those who offer simplistic options.

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