Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No. When I mentioned that we were bringing in a supplementary budget I said that the presentation of a revised Estimate in March would not apply since we were preparing for a supplementary budget in April. Revised Estimate volumes will arise out of that process rather than coming separately in March. The commitment to provide the revised Estimates volume in March was based on the fact that we had completed the budgetary process at the end of last year.

I do not accept Deputy Gilmore's characterisation of the preparedness of the Minister, and the Department, to be as co-operative as possible, consistent with his being able to discharge his duty to bring forward a budget as he is constitutionally required to do. The Department's facilities and resources, and the Minister, are continually available to assist spokespersons so that we can have——

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