Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

It would not be acceptable to simply provide an explanatory memorandum because it would only relate to the Bill. The report we propose in the amendment should be provided. The Bill must include a reference to the delegation orders which are separate and any other statutes not mentioned in it but which relate to functions of the Minister for Finance. We are talking about billions of euro of taxpayers' money and a new Department in charge of spending it. The amendment mentions "40 days", but any business in charge of spending billions of euro would have a business plan setting out exactly what it would do before it started in business.

The refusal to accept the amendment, when its spirit is accepted by Members opposite and the Department, indicates things have not changed, nor will they. This does not give us much hope there will be change in this Department. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the Minister will be in the House for Report Stage or later on Committee Stage? We might decide not to press the amendment now and perhaps change it slightly for the Minister before Report Stage. Perhaps the Government could work on an amendment to be tabled on Report Stage to cover some of our concerns. It would make public what the Minister intended to do and the exact list of his powers.