Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to answer both sets of questions because the Deputies are from the same party. First of all, as I said out at the outset, I apologise for the fact that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, is not available. There is a Cabinet meeting on the July stimulus which he had to attend.

Deputy Farrell referred to a lack of detail in the Revised Estimates. We are fully prepared to take on any additional scrutiny measures that might be needed in terms of the metrics for financial reporting.

It is unfortunate that we are in the current position. As Deputy Doherty and other Members will know, this procedure normally takes place in February. We are where we are because there was no functioning Dáil due to Covid and everything else. A Government had not been formed. We now have a situation whereby gross voted expenditure is almost hitting the four fifths threshold----

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