Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

-----what arrangements will the Taoiseach make for the Opposition to obtain information on how the Estimates will operate? Will Ministers run press conferences at the same time as the budget and social welfare Bill are being debated in the House? We have no way of getting the information except through the ministerial press conferences.

Given that the budget is a week later than usual and so close to Christmas, how will information on the Estimates and the programme for each Department be made available? Has the Government discussed this? We receive the Estimates only after the Minister has risen to make the budget speech. They comprise an appendix to the budget.

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