Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions on the summer economic statement. Deputy Michael McGrath touched on the fact that the Christmas bonus is not factored in to the statement. The Minister responded to this in parliamentary questions. The debate last week was about the criticism from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, that the bonus had not been factored in. The Minister clarified the issue in his own way but, going back to the substance of the issue, the Christmas bonus cost €285 million last year. It is not loose change we are going to find down the sofa. If it is the intention to pay the Christmas bonus, why is not being factored in to the figures? The figures presented suggest there is a budget package of €700 million available. The appendix suggests that the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis promise of tax cuts of €600 million can come out of that and we will find the Christmas bonus money somewhere else. Why is the Christmas bonus not factored in? Surely at this stage it is a policy choice, or is the Minister still dangling the idea of "will we, won't we" so that it will seem like a surprise when he pays the Christmas bonus?