Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The fact that we are bringing forward the budget by six or seven weeks this year means arrangements must be adapted to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. We need to bring forward the budget quickly and provide clarity and certainty regarding the direction of the economy, in light of the situation in which we find ourselves. For this reason, pre-eminence must be given to holding the budget on 14 October. The question of the end of third quarter returns and so on will be provided in due course. It is important to point out that this process allows us to bring forward the budget on 14 October. This is the overriding requirement, quite apart from arrangements that may have prevailed in the past and would have applied to a December budget.

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