Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

When the Tánaiste announced the new format for the budget on 13 September, he stated that instead of Estimates, a pre-budget outlook will set out the economic and fiscal conditions for the following three years. He indicated then that the pre-budget outlook would be published in October. Is he in a position to advise when in October it will be published? Will he accommodate a full address of the outlook in this House at the earliest opportunity and has he a date or dates in mind for that process? Very importantly, will it address the issue of multi-annual budgeting, which we have addressed over the past five years during the Tánaiste's tenure as Minister for Finance and my time as a member of the Committee on Finance and the Public Service? We have agreement that that is the correct way to proceed. Does he not agree it is now even more important to take a multi-annual budgeting approach, particularly to our health services? It is my view and the view of many people that many of the difficulties currently being experienced in the health services can be attributed——

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