Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on progress in reforming the budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24813/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In my Budget speech last December, I set out the Government's proposals for reforming the budgetary process.

As I said I would on Budget Day, I subsequently wrote to the opposition Finance spokespersons and the Party Whips on 20 December last to invite them to a briefing on the Government's proposals for reform.

A briefing session on the reform process for all the Opposition Finance Spokespersons and Party Whips was organised for 10 May. This was attended by the Green Party and Independent Group spokespersons. A request has been received since from the Fine Gael Finance Spokesperson for the same briefing and I am looking at a mutually suitable date for holding such a briefing.

My Department continues preparations for replacing the traditional Economic Review and Outlook document with the updated three year economic and fiscal projections with a view to publication in the autumn.

In the meantime, Departments are continuing with their preparations of the annual output statement to be presented with their Estimates for 2007. This Department plans to hold a further seminar for Departments and Offices on 5th July next to assist them in this regard.

As I said in the Budget, once bedded down, these proposals can lay the ground work for consideration of a more unified Budget approach in the future.