Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Unfortunately, the Deputy is again trying to get me to give some specific commitments one way or the other on the budget. As I said, however, there is long time to go between now and the budget. I will not in any way pre-empt any Cabinet discussions or any Government announcement on the budget. Therefore, no matter how often or how persistently people ask me what I will do concerning the budget, the same answer will be given, that is, they are all decisions to be taken by the Cabinet.

In my experience we will look at all the parameters in great detail. Last year, we had a large number of meetings before the budget and because the Department of Social Protection accounts for one third of total expenditure, a lot of time was spent on it. My colleagues all have a big interest in it. We are greatly concerned to protect the vulnerable, which is the important thing from our point of view. The matter is a very complex one. We also understand - I believe the Deputy's party agrees with us on this - that unless we meet our fiscal targets the sustainability of any future budgets will be put at risk.

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