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

Yes, I thought originally it could be done. I announced the package of budgetary reform, where we'd have a spring statement, and we've delivered on that, and where we'd have an economic dialogue, which we had in the castle in the summertime. And the third leg of that trilogy was an independent budget office to which I'm committed, but when I took advice from officials and cross-matched it with people in Leinster House, the timeline was too short to do a proper job on it. But I'm still committed to it and I will put it in our own programme for Government. And I promised as well that I would consult with you if it's ... if it's my function to do so. But I am committed to it, but I ... I won't get it done before the election.