Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date for each year since 2000 of pre-budget meetings held with the Department of Finance and the Department of An Taoiseach; the attendees at such meetings; if an agenda was circulated in advance; if minutes of such a meeting were kept; if not the reason for same; if officials were directed not to keep minutes of such meetings; if so, by whom and the date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17567/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is a normal part of the annual Estimates process for meetings to take place at official and Ministerial level between my Department and the Department of Finance. The Estimates process by its nature evolves during negotiation over the entirety of the campaign. As such budgetary allocations change at very short notice. Therefore, the formal recording of minutes would not normally arise as they would be of limited or no value. The meetings in question are attended by senior officials of my Department who act in accordance with Ministerial directions with the Minister normally agreeing the final allocations at the latter part of the Estimates process. There is no question of officials being directed not to keep minutes or records of these meetings.