THE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform has a new chair as of today.

The Labour TD for Cork South Central, Ciarán Lynch, had been nominated to the position by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and was formally elected as chairman today at a meeting of the committee.

Responding to news of his appointment, Lynch said he was honoured and that he was ‘determined to get stuck in from day one’.

The position had become vacant due to the previous chairman, Alex White TD, taking up the junior ministerial position that was held by Róisín Shortall until her resignation last month.

Lynch went on to say:

Management of the public finances and public expenditure and reform are key priorities and this Committee has an important brief and a key role to play in scrutinising the work of the Department.

I believe that the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform can also play an effective and positive part in national recovery by influencing policy, devising progressive proposals and making a real contribution in the areas under our remit.

I will continue to work hard to ensure that the Finance Committee remains a relevant and vital part in meeting the challenge of managing public finances.

Finally I would like to acknowledge the work of previous chairman Alex White and pay tribute to his contribution to this very important committee.

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