Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish to make clear that I do not anticipate in any way the timeline Deputy Kenny suggests would be involved in completing the necessary legislative enactments to put into law the budgetary and other matters that must be complied with when the budget is announced. Second, as the Deputy is aware, November is an important month for tax revenues and it is of critical importance to get right the end of November returns as one enters the next financial year to ensure one's budgetary assessment is correct and that the figures are up to date. The Deputy also is aware this is the case. Therefore, one introduces the budget within a week of those figures being brought through and incorporated. This is the reason the budget always takes place at that time. My point is that the Commission and the people with whom the Government is dealing accept the issuing of the four-year plan this week, as well as the holding of the budget on 7 December with the information that will ensure its qualitative and quantitative nature is correct, to be important and that the Government should do it in that way.

Lest the Deputy think otherwise, I do not question his attempt or offer to be constructive. However, he also is aware the Government must do this correctly and must get its end of November figures as part of its budgetary assessment. Consequently, I am talking about having a budget to put before this House within the next two weeks and publishing a four-year plan tomorrow.

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