Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I wish to inform the House that I have received information that the Minister, Deputy Howlin, will be here later this evening. He may have an opportunity to clarify what he has been doing. I would again stress the point that the Department being established under this legislation did not have any functions prior to the legislation going through and whatever work the Minister, Deputy Howlin, has been doing was carried out under the Department of Finance up until now. That is why we cannot incorporate this into the legislation.