Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We had a budget in September and it was passed by this House in the form of the Finance Bill, the Appropriation Bill and the Social Welfare Bill by very clear majorities. We will not have a mini-budget. That is not necessary. The budget set out the fiscal parameters for this year, and anything we do or announce between now and the next budget will be done within the confines of those parameters. However, we have some room to manoeuvre. There has been an underspend on the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, which means we will be able to do more for business. We have some reserve funds. We will also have revenue coming in from the windfall tax on energy companies. That allows us some room for manoeuvre within the budget parameters of this year. There will be no requirement at all for a mini-budget between now and budget 2024 in the autumn.

I take the Deputy's point about kite flying and speculation. I do not want to say anything today that might raise expectations that end up being dashed next week.

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