Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire sa Teach. It was an innovative approach in the programme for Government to effectively divide the responsibilities of the Department of Finance, placing specific responsibility for public sector reform and expenditure at the level of a full Cabinet Ministry. That set the framework for the commitment of the Government to public sector reform.

As an aside with regard to the Hallowe'en break, it is interesting to note that the Houses of the Oireachtas are sitting the bones of 50% extra compared to sittings under the previous Government. There was a time when this House closed down in the second or third week of June and did not return until the last week of September.