Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House to discuss the Appropriation Bill. It does not seem that long since we discussed the last one. The years are passing quickly.

I welcome the Bill and the way we can now spend money. I compliment the Government on the way it has looked after the finances of the State so that we have money to spend. I welcome the healthy state of finances and congratulate the Minister on same.

As previous speakers said, this is a housekeeping exercise. It brings things together at the end of the season and makes financial provision for certain budgets going forward over the Christmas period and into early next year. There would be an outcry if nobody received their pension, salary, social welfare or whatever until the middle of next January. The legislation enables all the necessary provisions to take place in an orderly fashion over the next couple of weeks. I welcome the Bill and the good state of finances. I welcome the fact the economy has grown so well that we have more money to spend this year than last year.

I mention a number of issues to the Minister of State. First, I congratulate a local company in my home patch called Wills Brothers. The company undertook a big road scheme from Tuam to Gort in County Galway. The road was brought in on time and on budget. Companies like the Wills Brothers should be held up as a role model for businesses in terms of how business is done and can be done.

The Government should consider overspends, in particular the overspend that has been forecast for the national children's hospital. Everything that was needed could not be gauged for in the original provision. However, when there is an overspend of such magnitude, the Government should consider the issues, particularly overspends on Government contracts and proposals because it is the taxpayers and the Exchequer that must pay.