Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House.

Effectively, the Appropriation Bill is an accounting exercise to balance the books and ensure that there is capital in place for issues or emergencies that may arise. The Comptroller and Auditor General has sought this and nobody wants to see Ministers go cap in hand. From my point of view, it is purely an accounting exercise. It is essential that any payments required to deliver public services will be continued. For that reason, I will be supporting it.