Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It will be challenging and difficult to draft the budget for 2013. The target is to have the deficit down to 7.5%, which means a reduction of €3.5 billion, with €1 billion coming from tax and €2.5 billion on the other side.

In respect of the Croke Park agreement, the Deputy is aware that the Government has received the independent analysis of that agreement. The Government will meet with the implementation body to discuss the report and its findings. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance will examine the Croke Park agreement and this report as part of their analysis of how we approach the preparation of the budget for 2013. That budget will be presented by the Minister for Finance in December.

In regard to the Deputy's question about Ministers needing to engage, this is a requirement for every Minister. The letters that were published were the result of a freedom of information request. It is a requirement and responsibility for every Minister to engage, in so far as their Department is concerned. Deputy Martin will be aware that the Government has set its target for spending for the next three years, including ceilings, and every Minister is required to live within the agreed ceilings. From that point of view, the Government will start the process in due course of preparing for the budget. As I said this morning, that budget will not be drafted in public. The Cabinet will conduct its deliberations and make its decisions in respect of what will be a very challenging position for 2013.

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