John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, and his officials to the Seanad to discuss the Budget Statement by the Minister for Finance. We are growing accustomed to these debates over the last couple of years. I have made a list of notable omissions from the contribution of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in the other House. One of these was decentralisation and I am glad the Minister of State at least had the decency to mention it.