Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Standing Orders for the Order of Business allow us to ask questions regarding documents required to assist the House in carrying out its business. I understand that next week the Government will agree the tax and spending proposals for the next four years.

I also, of course, understand these will not be published until after the issues of the Dublin West by-election and the presidential election are comfortably out of the way. If the House is to have a meaningful debate on the spending proposals, it seems imperative that Members have access to the spending review. I understand the troika has had access to it, but Members will be asked to debate the Government's spending proposals for the next four years without having sight of it. Does the Government intend to publish the spending review, about which it has spoken for so long and which it has put back from month to month? Is it intended to publish it in order that Members will have to hand the information contained within it at the same time as they receive the Government's spending proposals for the next four years?

See this speech in context