Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I will be doing the same with the current side. It will be a three-year horizon. With the new Estimates process I am producing, it will not simply be the case of there is the voted amount for this purpose but what is the expected outcome for that. It will not simply take account of whether the money was spent but what was got for it. That level of accountability will be very useful to the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General.

We have published the three-year framework of expenditure in both capital and current as well as the comprehensive review of expenditure. All the policy instruments to reduce expenditure are in the public domain. I have written to the Chairmen of every sectoral committee to the effect that they should be involved in this process of deciding spending. It should not be a budget day announcement. People need to be involved in discussing the various options and consequences of budgetary measures. It is very difficult to change the culture and getting the Opposition to be part of finding a solution. I would be exactly the same if I were in opposition asking why I should be part of finding the solution because the hard decisions are for someone else. If one wants to argue for Parliament having the authority, then it must exercise the powers it has.