Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The draft documents are being finalised, as Deputies are aware. I think they are going to ECOFIN next week. The Minister for Finance intends to circulate the up-to-date draft documents that have been referred to when he makes his contribution in the House at approximately 3.45 p.m. this afternoon. They will be available before they are finalised on 6 and 7 December next. I think those are the dates on which that will happen.

The finance Bill will be taken in the new year. It has to be prepared. First of all, we have to get our budget through. That is the first priority. That will take place next week. Legislation will have to be prepared thereafter. It will be debated and legislated for in the normal way as soon as possible. It will be in the new year. There will be a return to the Dáil. We have not yet decided what the date will be.

I will communicate with the Minister for Finance regarding the up-to-date position on how the fiscal responsibility law will be proceeded with. I will ask him to refer to it in his speech this afternoon.

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