Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is indeed a helpful contributory to the analysis of these figures and we have to take note of and acknowledge what is contained within it. The Minister said that vote allocations are the responsibility of each Minister, which is the case. Between 2012 and 2017 the overrun fell within the ceiling only once - in 2013, whereas currently the baseline is regularly exceeded by various unforeseen events, inefficiencies and overruns in regard to cost. Has this process run its course and are there other processes which the Minister's believes should be put in place to ensure the key responsibilities he mentioned are taken seriously by Ministers and that they are accountable to those they represent here and, by extension, the public? It would appear that the commitments made in any given year cannot be guaranteed to be met, which is hardly consistent with the process.

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