Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

A second budget in the year is not normal. This is a serious matter. We all accept that the public finances are in a serious state. The timeframe is fairly short. The options for the budget date are very limited, as it will either be on 2 April, 8 April or 9 April. Which is it? This is not an academic question. Given the fact that Easter is falling around this time, there are implications for the budget date and on our debate on it. We normally have a week's debate or more after a budget is announced. If the budget takes place on 2 April, we presumably will have a budget debate going right up to the Easter break. If it is left until Easter week, that raises questions about the arrangements made for a debate in the House on the budgetary measures.

I do not think it would be acceptable to the public that the Government would introduce a budget a couple of days before Easter, following which the House would go into recess, with no debate on the budget.

See this speech in context