Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that is impossible to predict with lockdowns and further restrictions where jobs will be at and what is supposed to be required, but my core question is whether the recovery fund package is in excess of the €9 billion. The Minister was always the person who talked about us not having surprises on budget day, yet he will give us all a surprise in just four days' time. In any other year we would know the quantum of the package. At the minute the budgetary strategy talks of a package in the region of €12 billion. The question is, what will the package be? Will it be €14 billion, €15 billion or €16 billion? What size is the recovery fund?

Four days out from the budget, the least the Minister could do to show respect to a budgetary oversight committee would be to indicate to it how far he is going to push the envelope on Tuesday.