Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In the pre-budget outlook released in mid-October, a technical fiscal position for the years 2008 to 2010 was set out in Table 6. The publication projected tax receipts for 2010 to be €56,520 million on a technical basis, an increase of 6.25% over the 2009 estimate. This was the first time my Department published a tax revenue projection for 2010. Tax revenue of this magnitude is substantial and will enable the Government to continue to make adequate provision for day-to-day public services and investment.

Revised economic and fiscal projections for the period from 2008 to 2010 as well as estimated outturns for 2007 will be provided in the annual budget which I will present to the House on 5 December. These updates will take account of all relevant developments since the publication of the pre-budget outlook.

The programme for Government is an agreed five-year programme between the Government parties in which we set out our guiding economic and budgetary policy principles. In this regard, I remind the Deputy we are fully committed to a responsible fiscal policy. Detailed spending and taxation plans for 2008 will also be presented to the House on budget day. These will represent the first instalment of the Government's delivery of the programme for Government.

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