Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——for everybody, in terms of presentation of accounts and being able to discuss expenditure and tax proposals. Developing a unified position is the best way to proceed. When the pre-budget outlook is published, the House will have an opportunity to debate it and Members will be able to present their ideas regarding the shape of the budget based on the pre-budget documentation, of which the existing level of service provision will form part. I do not accept this is not a progressive step. Some spokespersons took up an earlier offer by me of a briefing and talks with Department officials on our plans for improving output statements. That briefing is still available to those who have not thus far taken that opportunity.

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