I am sure the Taoiseach would join me in welcoming the first meeting of the Select Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny tomorrow. I understand that the budgetary process in June is a critical period where some of the initial Estimates from Departments are formulated and talks between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Departments take place. I also understand we should have a different budgetary process this year so that we do not wait until budget 2018 to implement any change. If the Taoiseach agrees with that, can he outline when the sectoral committees will be established and whether they will be able to take part in a revised budgetary process so that each Department and every Member of this House have the chance through their sectoral committees to engage in the process? I understand we need to do this to the required timeline, which is in the next two weeks. Will that be possible? Do we have the resources and the ability to set up the committees that quickly? Is it part of the Government's vision of how this budget scrutiny process should operate that it should start this year, rather than just being an academic exercise which waits for 2018 before we do our business differently?

Yes, it will start this year, and the summer statement, to be issued after the Estimates for 2016 have been concluded, is the start of that process. I understand that the sectoral committees should be in operation by the week after next. This, in the run-in to the summer period before the House rises and in preparation for the budget, is the start of that process. There will be the plenary discussion, the national consultative engagement and the opportunity for the sectoral committees to engage. The plenary session in this House will give its views on the different Estimates. The process is therefore already under way.