Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No. They will be done in parallel with the processing of the Finance Bill, which is the most important legislation. If we do not have that, how do we confirm certainty for the upcoming financial year? It is in everybody's interest. Behind all the rhetoric, there is an understanding from everybody that must happen. We would be very foolish if we did not do that. In the question the Deputy raises, he is going a bit far in suggesting the Government should at this stage decide it is not in a position to make decisions.

I agree that we should be able to come to some mechanism that would enable us to get a greater degree of agreement when that period arrives.

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