Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I want to raise two matters. Arising from the publication, about 20 minutes ago, of the Exchequer returns for the end of February, which show a drop in tax revenue of about €1.8 billion and an increase in the Exchequer deficit from approximately €124 million this time last year to more than €2 billion now, and arising from the Taoiseach's earlier statement that it is the Government's intention to deal in some way with this dramatic issue, will he say, in terms of the Dáil's business, whether we will see a new budget before the end of March or the publication of new departmental Estimates? The Taoiseach said this would be addressed by way of a Government decision by the end of March, so will he indicate to the House what will be presented to the Dáil by that time, arising from what he said earlier?

I see in The Irish Times that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is calling for Ireland's withdrawal from the European Defence Agency, in the context of the Government's intention to have another referendum on the Lisbon treaty. I understand the Government has been in discussion with our European partners in respect of texts that will address the concerns of voters in the last referendum about aspects of our relationship with Europe. Is the Government seeking a withdrawal from the European Defence Agency?

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