Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

He should not worry. It is not like his own, and he is under no duress to attend ours.

On the question as to whether there will be a budget, the Minister for Finance and I have said that with revenues on stream and spending down 10% over the first quarter compared to last year, and being on target, it is not envisaged that we will have any requirement for a budget, other than at the end of the year because the strategy that was outlined is working.

In respect of the international transactions tax, again, that will require a response at global level. As the Deputy knows, the British Prime Minister indicated his support for that at the G7 summit but it did not meet with unanimous approval there-----

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