Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the leaking of Government documents given to the troika. [36998/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance his response to the fact that documents relating to budget 2012 were given to a German parliamentary committee before being put before Dáil Éireann. [36999/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.

As I said in my reply to parliamentary questions on this matter last week, I wish to make clear that I and my colleagues in Government are deeply concerned that draft confidential budget information became public before Government had finally made all of the necessary budgetary decisions. Furthermore, we are concerned at the manner in which this information was put into the public domain.

As the Deputy will be well aware, we are in a programme of financial support with the EU and the IMF. As part of this programme, we are obliged to share information with the EU Commission, the ECB and the IMF - the External Partners. Such information is shared on a confidential basis, with the understanding that its circulation is restricted. As such, certain draft technical information which is clearly signalled as being still subject to Government decisions is transmitted to the External Partners. This information flow is part of the necessary transmission of information which is required to facilitate discussions amongst senior officials at Eurogroup Working Group level.

As I understand it, and notwithstanding the strict confidentiality applied to the material supplied to the Troika, this information was sent by Commission staff to the German Finance Ministry. It was then forwarded by them to their Parliament. Neither Government nor the Irish officials were informed that this transmission of confidential budgetary documentation would take place. Further, that this occurred before the information was agreed by Government and then provided to the Oireachtas serves only to heighten our concerns.

Since becoming aware of the leak and the internal processes that the Commission have in place we have raised our serious concerns with the Commission, and also with the German authorities.

We must nevertheless recognise that we remain in a programme, and continue to rely on the support of the External Partners. In expressing our concern, we need also to continue working with our partners.

As the Deputy may be aware, the relevant documents have since been laid before the house – both in draft form on 22nd November, and upon signature by myself and Governor Honohan on 29th November.