I remind the Deputy that within a short time of the flooding in Newcastle West in 2008, a major flood relief scheme was completed there by the OPW. Similar schemes were completed in Cappamore and Dromcolliher. Major works are ongoing in Limerick city to protect King's Island and work has been completed in Coonagh. Immediately after I visited Kilmallock, the OPW completed a tree and vegetation control there and more work is ongoing in that regard. Work is also going on at Bresheen South where the channel meets the R…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As we approach the winter season, it is opportune that we consider our preparedness as a country to respond to severe weather events such as flooding. I am acutely aware of the impact that the recent flooding has had on individual households and on communities at large, and specifically in the midlands. Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, I have visited several areas affected by recent storms, witnessed the damage caused and spoken …

In his earlier contribution, the Deputy asked me to meet, to be upfront and straight and to resolve issues. I can commit to two of those things. I commit to meetings and to be upfront and straight. The Deputy knows me long enough to understand that. As for the resolution of the issue, flooding on the Shannon predates the foundation of the State. It is a slow-moving river and we all know the issues associated with it. We know where communities, man-made obstacles and agricultural land have interfaced with the Shanno…

I will speak specifically to my own area of responsibility, namely, the Office of Public Works, OPW, which has three main focuses: heritage services, flood risk management and estate management. As an organisation, the OPW provides a wide spectrum of essential services and has largely continued to function in many areas during this period. The OPW has implemented considerable business continuity measures throughout the various phases of restrictions to ensure that services deemed essential to the public, including …

That is not a point of order.

Could you clarify the rule, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?

This is out of order.

We need consistency.

Withdraw that.

I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €42,745,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants and that a sum not exceeding €146,000 be granted by way of the a…

I will try to respond briefly to the questions from both of the Sinn Féin Deputies.

This is Sinn Féin's time.

I will try to answer both sets of questions because the Deputies are from the same party. First of all, as I said out at the outset, I apologise for the fact that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, is not available. There is a Cabinet meeting on the July stimulus which he had to attend. Deputy Farrell referred to a lack of detail in the Revised Estimates. We are fully prepared to take on any additional scrutiny measures that might be needed in terms of the metrics for financial reporting. It is unfortunate that …

I am trying to be-----

I am trying to be respectful to the Deputy's party and answer the questions asked by the previous Sinn Féin speaker, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, as well as those asked by Deputy Doherty. She deserves answers to the very important questions she raised. On the issue of capital expenditure within my Department, Deputy Farrell raised a very interesting issue in the context of Covid in particular. There is a €200,000 allocation within the voted Estimate for additional ICT expenditure. Much of this funding will help to suppo…

I point out to Deputy Doherty that I do not come to the House to waffle. If he does not like the answers I give, that is fine, but he should not try to insult people. I am present and I am answerable to the House. I provide answers to the questions I am asked. If he does not like the answers, that is fine. He should try to show a bit of respect.

Through the Chair, there is a way to take that issue up without insulting somebody who is here trying to answer questions. On the issue of King's Island, as Deputy Quinlivan is aware, it is at design and planning stage. The current level of expenditure is approximately €4.18 million. The expenditure for 2019 is €452,000. I have an interest in this issue because it affects my local area. I understand the issues raised by the Deputy. On the issue of Shannon Heritage, I was at several meetings organised by Deputy Care…

I will try to answer as quickly as I can. Some of them are no longer within my brief, although they were until the transition. The construction innovation fund is a concept that was developed during my time in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform around the area of building information modelling technology so that we could use best practice in the private sector to ensure that when the State goes out to the market or develops concepts internally, we can use the best available technology like building inf…

I think I answered it. People take responsibility based on the demands that society as a whole puts on us as a Government. If people have additional responsibilities and are expected to be able to relay those to the House, I think their salaries should reflect the responsibilities of everyone else sitting at the Cabinet table.

As I already told Deputy Shortall, the rationale for increasing the number sitting at Cabinet was laid out by the three party leaders when the Government was formed. There are increasing demands on all of us. There was a suggestion of Departments being abolished or being merged in advance of the programme for Government, which some interest groups, lobbies and Deputies opposed. There were suggestions before the Government was formed that new Departments were needed. The Government is bound by the Constitution of 19…