Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand that, but we should be speaking about the cost of the debt which is part of government expenditure. It should not be excluded from our discussion process because it comes from the Central Fund and has nothing to do with Parliament. It is taxpayers' money and how much we pay on the national debt should be voted through each year. This is the point I wish to make. I know somebody will find out why these were separated back in the year dot, but it is no longer satisfactory.

I have given the context of these figures. Non-voted expenditure, which we do not get to discuss in the House, can increase by 36% while what we can discuss is reduced by 9%. I am detailing these figures because they are not discussed in the House and we do not vote on them. The Minister can say they are in the book but it needs to be said on the public record. Note 4 of the 2013 Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year Ending 31 December 2013 details non-voted current expenditure, and I will read the figures, of which I am sure the Department officials are aware. The cost of servicing the national debt is projected at €8.111 billion and the contribution to the EU budget will be €1.444 billion. Neither of these figures was discussed in the House as part of the Estimates process. This is taxpayers' money which we pay to the EU.

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