THE DEPARTMENT OF Finance will run a Twitter Q&A about the Budget later this week with the junior finance minister Brian Hayes answering questions from the public about the measures the government announces.

Hayes is taking part in the new initiative despite being less than enthusiastic about the social networking site when he spoke to TheJournal.ie in August.

Back then, when we asked about Twitter, he told us: “A: I couldn’t be bothered, B: who’s interested in what I would tweet? I mean, what’s the point?”

YouTube: TheJournal.ie

Hayes last tweeted from his own personal Twitter account in August 2012 or 424 days ago.

A Department of Finance spokesperson said that Hayes’ dual role as a Minister of State in the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform make him “the obvious choice” to field questions on the Budget this Thursday.

This innovation is part of a move by government to communicate its message to the public across more and more social media platforms.

Infographics and other tools are also being prepared for the Department’s special Budget website ahead of the announcement tomorrow afternoon.

Hayes will take part in the Twitter Q&A for around 45 minutes on Thursday afternoon and a spokesperson said he would engage with all “sincere questions” that are tweeted.

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