Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

All of these issues will be dealt with in terms of decisions on the Supplementary Estimates, not in regard to this matter. Decisions on departmental Estimates will be made in the course of the next few weeks. That is always the case as the final balances emerge.

Regarding the budget reform process, it is a more transparent process. For a number of weeks now the Opposition Members have had to hand the existing level of service provision for next year. I will be bringing forward the Government's policies based on the current economic situation, the projected outturn, next year's projected growth rates and what we expect to do in terms of expenditure and taxation. There will be an opportunity on the same day for Deputy Bruton and other Deputies here to do the same but if it is anything like the costings that emerged from that side of the House before the last election, I will not hold my breath.

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