Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will answer questions in the Dáil from the opposition next Tuesday, it has been confirmed.
While Mr Donohoe made a statement on his election expenses in the Dáil on Wednesday. There was widespread anger from the opposition that he did not answer questions.
The Public Expenditure Minister told the Dáil on Thursday morning that he was willing to come back and make another statement regarding his only cleared election expenses and posters that were hung up during the campaign.
READ MORE: Paschal Donohoe's poster pal's companies got €8.7m in Government payments over six years
The Business Committee met on Thursday afternoon, with the opposition calling for a question and answer session from the Fine Gael TD.
They agreed that Minister Donohoe will make a 10-minute statement after Taoiseach’s Questions next Tuesday.
The opposition will then have six minutes for each opposition group and party, with questions and answers immediately taken at each slot.
Minister Donohoe will then have five minutes to wrap up.
There had been calls for the Minister to appear in front of the Dáil on Thursday evening. There was widespread agreement at the first Dáil Business Committee meeting on Thursday that business could be rearranged to facilitate Mr Donohoe. However, he said he was not available.
He had told the Dáil on Thursday morning that he wanted to make another statement.
He said: “I just want to reiterate what I've already said that I do plan to make a further statement.
“I have not yet indicated to the Ceann Comhairle regarding when that will be. But of course, that's his decision to grant it.
“At the earliest opportunity, I want to make a further statement on the matter and ensure that the information that I am sharing is as accurate as possible.”
The opposition wants the Minister to answer further questions on his undeclared election expenses. Businessman Michael Stone paid for six individuals to hang posters for him during the 2016 General Election. This was not declared by the Minister and is not the subject of a Standards in Public Office (SIPO) complaint.
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