Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 January 2023
106. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for reforming public procurement legislation to allow the procurement system to be used in a more strategic way. [63831/22]
View answerThere is no way that we can have business as usual here today in relation to our questions when we look at what has happened over the last number of days and the scandal the Minister has been embroiled in. The Minister has failed to clarify matters in relation to this scandal. There are a number of outstanding questions that I want to put to him today because he failed to answer questions yesterday in the Dáil. Who, in 2017, brought to his attention that a company van was used in 2016?
Deputy-----
What action did the Minister take and at what value did he calculate that work?
Thank you, Deputy. We are on Priority Questions here-----
I said from the outset that there is no way we can go back to business as usual when the Minister is refusing to answer questions. The Minister now has an opportunity to answer those questions. Indeed, he has an hour and a half in which to answer questions. He should use that time to answer.
Deputy, please take your seat.
I am asking questions of the Minister and I ask that he answer them.
Deputy, could you resume your seat pleas? Your 30 seconds are up. Let me clarify something here. I was actually due to hand over the Chair but was just starting on questions. Unless something has changed, unknown to me, we are taking questions nominated for priority and the first is Question No. 106. Are you dealing with that, Minister?
Yes, I will deal with the question.
Everything has changed. We need answers to these questions-----
I will deal with that question but I also want to say that I do plan to make a further statement in relation to issues involving the 2016 general election campaign and matters that were put to me last night.
Deputy Mairéad Farrell to respond.
I have asked a number of questions but I have not received a response. This is the perfect opportunity. It is the Minister's first set of ministerial questions as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and his first parliamentary questions this year. This is the perfect opportunity. The Minister knows the answers to these questions. He can give us the answers to these questions. I do not understand the view that it would be beneficial for him not to answer these questions here today.
Deputy Farrell, I called you for the question.
I have listed a few and I ask the Minister to answer them.
On a point of order-----
One moment. Deputy Farrell, I called you for the question that is on the Order Paper.
Does the Acting Chairman understand that I have already had my first 30 seconds and this is now my second contribution? The Minister had come in and I have asked the Minister to-----
The Minister responded and it is now up to the Deputy to come back and-----
Yes, and I have asked the Minister to answer the questions but he has not done so. I can give him a whole range of questions. The reality is that the Minister has the answers to these questions and he has the opportunity in this Dáil to answer them. We are dealing with ministerial questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are questions to be answered. The Minister refused to do it yesterday and he has the perfect opportunity to do it today so why does he not do so?
Deputy Nash, did you want to raise a point of order? Please make sure it is a point of order.
The Minister has said he will make a further statement in relation to his 2016 statement to the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO. When does he plan to do that? Has he made that request directly to the Ceann Comhairle?
Thank you, Deputy. That is not a point of order. Take your seat, please.
It is a point of order.
If the Minister could clarify, it would be helpful to move this section of our business on.
It might well be but it is not a point of order. Take your seat, please.
On a point of order----
Yes, Deputy.
This is a point of order, as is the point made by Deputy Nash, in my view. If the order of this House is going to be changed to facilitate the Minister answering questions-----
There is no question of the order being changed. That is not a matter for now, Deputy.
With respect, a Minister of the Government has just announced that he is going to make a further statement. On a point of order, I want to know if the order of this House is going to be changed-----
You can raise that with your Whip, I would imagine.
I am raising it now because-----
No, you can raise it with your Whip, Deputy.
I am raising it now.
We cannot change the order today. We cannot change the order at the moment-----
The Minister----
I cannot change the order.
With respect, the Minister-----
You cannot change the order. Therefore, it is not a point of order. Please take your seat.
Actually, the Minister can change the order.
The Minister cannot change the order. The House changes the order, as you will be very much aware, Deputy. It is not as if you are only here a wet week. Now, take your seat please so we can move on with the business of the day.
With respect, the House has to have a proposal and that can only come from the Government.
There is no proposal. Take your seat, please.
I want clarification.
Take it up with your Whip, who can raise it with the other Whips at the Business Committee.
The Minister has announced on the floor of the Dáil that he is going to make a further statement.
Take your seat, Deputy. I want to move on with the business of the day. There are important questions-----
A statement has been made and clarification is required.
-----on the Order Paper. Take a seat please, Deputy.
This is unbelievable.
The Minister did indicate that he was prepared to answer my question.
Deputy Nash, take your seat please.
I refer to my direct question as to when he intends to make a statement and if he has made the request-----
Deputy, take your seat please. It is entirely within the Minister's gift-----
I have no doubt that the Minister would be happy to answer that very clear question.
Deputy, do not speak over me please. It is entirely a matter for the Minister to respond, in the way in which he deems appropriate, to the question on the Order Paper. The question that is before us is No. 106. Deputy Farrell has responded to the Minister. Do you have anything further to add, Minister?
I just want to reiterate that I do intend to make a further statement to the House. I will do so at the earliest possible opportunity, at which point I will revert to the Ceann Comhairle.
Thank you very much. We will move on to Priority Question No. 107 in the name of Deputy Berry.
