Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I have heard what Deputy Doherty has said. He can try to undermine me all he likes, saying that he does not want a junior Minister standing opposite him. I am the Government Chief Whip at the Department of the Taoiseach.

I am also Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for mental health and I attend Cabinet. I am well qualified to stand here. Deputy Doherty might not recognise that sitting in opposition but I am proud of what I am and who I have become as Chief Whip of this Government. That is the first point.

The second point, which none of the Deputies opposite wants to acknowledge, is that this is time sensitive and this Vote has to happen by 3 December, next week. It is my job to make sure the Votes are taken.

It is too easy to comment that the Taoiseach will not come and present here. He simply did not have the time to come before the committee.

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