Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also wish the Minister well in her new portfolio. I am sure she will miss the Department of Justice and Equality and the lengthy questions both I and other Deputies used to submit to her. I also wish the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, well in the portfolio he has retained.

Budget 2018 will be vital. I do not agree with removing any part of the Department and transferring it to another Department. In what appears to be a reflection of the hard right ideology of the new Taoiseach, it appears employment will be moved into the Department of Social Protection. These are different functions and responsibility for employment should be in the same Department as responsibility for jobs. What areas will not be included in the Department's Estimates this year?

A couple of Deputies discussed the issue of Brexit at length. What additional resources will the Department be allocated to address the issue of Brexit? The previous Minister secured an additional €100 million for the Department last year. I wonder how ambitious the new Minister will be in at least matching that achievement.

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