Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to pursue this a bit further because we now are in a situation of considerable instability and lack of certainty. This largely has been brought about by the Government itself. The Taoiseach contributed to this last week when he continued to deny that discussions were taking place with the European Union and the IMF. It ended up that the Governor of the Central Bank told Members on Thursday on radio what the Taoiseach should have told them earlier in the week. It ended up that the IMF was brought in, with an application being made to the stabilisation fund on Sunday, which was something the Taoiseach had been denying all week. All of this then was compounded by the decision of the Taoiseach's partners in government to withdraw from the Government, albeit not just yet, but with the caveat that they would remain on until the budgetary process was completed.

The Taoiseach states that the budget must be passed. One should be clear about this because strictly speaking, there is no such thing. As the Taoiseach is aware, a process happens. The budget is introduced, followed by a series of financial resolutions on the night of the budget. Many of them deal with immediate matters such as excise duty, the price of petrol or cigarettes and so on and they often are not all that controversial as far as the House passing them is concerned. However, this then is followed by two legislative items that are required to give effect to the budgetary measures. The first is a social welfare Bill, which was passed before Christmas last year. The second is a finance Bill, which I understand did not complete its way through the House last year until 25 March.

I have two questions for the Taoiseach. First, what is the timeline about which he is talking? The Taoiseach should set out the steps for Members. In his response to Deputy Kenny, the Taoiseach rejected his suggestion that the Government should bring forward the date of the budget, which is a proposition with which I agree. However, the Taoiseach has rejected it and has stated that he is sticking with the date of 7 December. What is the Taoiseach's timeline after 7 December? In particular, when does he envisage the finance Bill being presented, voted on and enacted? Second, since one party in government already has semi-detached itself from the Government and because I have heard statements from some Independent Members who have loyally supported the Government over the past three years that suggest such loyalty and continued support may be, at least, in doubt, does the Taoiseach consider that the Government has a sufficient majority to put through the financial resolutions of the budget on budget night itself, the social welfare Bill that will come after that and the finance Bill?

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