Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will come back on a few of the points. To be very clear, the budget is agreed by the entire Government and the entire Government is responsible and accountable for the budget. It is not agreed bilaterally between the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and any other Minister. The budget was agreed by the Government and approved by the House. That is essentially how it works. I just want to be very clear about that.

The Minister for Health is responsible for the health budget. The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is responsible for expenditure in the round. Both take questions regularly in the House on matters that pertain to their briefs, and I am sure they will continue to do so.

In relation to the motion on the situation in the Middle East, 200 minutes have been set aside for a debate and discussion on it tomorrow. I think that is a considerable amount of time for people to discuss it. The Tánaiste has engaged with spokespeople and some of the party leaders about the motion.

See this speech in context