Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

What I am trying to outline to the House in a straightforward and honest fashion is that the plan is being prepared and finalised. It has to be discussed and approved by the Government. I facilitated much discussion about budgetary issues already and much progress has been made in this area. However, the four-year plan has further issues and policies that need to be addressed. I hope this will begin soon and be concluded as soon as possible thereafter. The plan will be published when it is finalised and approved by the Government. We indicated an indicative timetable of around mid-November. We are at that point but we are not ready to publish it because we have not yet finalised, discussed and approved it. We are working on it as a matter of priority.

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