Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not arrange the timing of the Deputy's pre-budget submission. It is a recent arrangement that Opposition parties bring out alternative budgets. It was not done for most of the years in the Dáil simply because the Opposition parties did not have the up-to-date information, but neither did the Minister. People waited to design their budgetary approaches, which were delivered in their replies to the budget, once they had the White Paper. The White Paper gave them accurate information, they were able to draft rough cuts of their speeches and they received the accurate information on budget day.

There was no attempt to mislead. I want to assure the Deputy of that. I gave him as much information as I had and over which I could stand. I brought the information along in various steps as soon as I got it.