Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As things stand, these matters are part of the deliberative process. The Government must approve them before I can discuss them with anyone else. This is the reason I am not in a position to go into any great detail. The Government is considering a number of options. As I indicated on budget day, there is room for improvement to the process of budget policy formation. We need a constructive debate on the procedures in place and how these can be enhanced. I hope the House will discuss the issues in a useful and productive manner. In the past, the Government produced meaningful changes. For example, the capital envelopes facility my predecessor introduced in the budget of 2004 encourages a more structured planning approach and therefore greater value for money with regard to infrastructural projects. I welcome debate on changes to the budget process. However, it will be important to implement changes that strengthen the process rather than weaken it through lack of effective implementation. We must also take into account reforms to the Stability and Growth Pact, which have been agreed recently as the Deputy is aware.

I cannot go into great detail, but as I stated with genuine and sincere sentiment in the budget speech, I would like to see more effective participation by the Oireachtas regarding the available documentation and how we might go about proceeding, rather than Members feeling that the process is done and dusted before they get up to speak about it. I have heard some resonances from the Fine Gael document. The Deputy will forgive me if, not being a member of his party, I do not accept every single dot and comma of his colleagues' proposals. They are a good contribution to the debate and I am sure when I bring forward some ideas, they can be discussed. I would like to see a productive and constructive debate rather than just a points-scoring exercise.

See this speech in context