Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A decision was taken by the previous Government not to publish standard income distribution tables from budget documentation. That was clearly because of a desire to hide the impact of budgets, which the Taoiseach has described as unfair. Can he give a clear undertaking that this data will be provided in the context of the forthcoming budget?

Separately, the Taoiseach will recall that in August the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection announced in The Irish Timesthat old age pensions would come after other payments to social welfare recipients, if increases were to be proposed. A few days later she announced in the Irish Independentthat the opposite would be the case, that old age pensions would be the number one priority and would get a substantial increase. Given the Taoiseach's policy when serving as a Minister, is it now the case that members of the Cabinet are free to make whatever statements they wish about the budget? He might indicate what the Government's priorities are in terms of the social welfare budgetary provision.

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