Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am always guided by the Chair. As regards the referendum Bill, The Minister for Foreign Affairs has already spoken to colleagues and spokespersons in the House, indicating that it will be published this week. The Government intends to take it next week. Enacting the legislation will provide us with the opportunity to proceed to the next step of announcing the date. As I have said, it is envisaged it will be in early October.

The special group established last December to review the scope for reducing or discontinuing expenditure programmes in Departments, and to make recommendations for reducing public service numbers to ensure a return to sustainable public finances, was due to report at the end of June. Hopefully it will meet that target within the next few days. It is finalising its arrangements and at that stage the report will be presented to the Minister for Finance who in due course will present it to the Government. The Government will make decisions as to what it wishes to do. It is obviously part of the Estimates and budgetary process.

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