Written answers

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Department of Finance

Budget Consultation Process

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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205. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the consultations that will take place in relation to Budget 2014, with both national and international parties, together with the nature and timing of those consultations. [18459/13]

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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206. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline any special measures that will be adopted in 2013 in order to facilitate consultation prior to deciding on the final measures to be contained in Budget 2014. [18460/13]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.

As the deputy is aware, last March, both ECOFIN and the European Parliament agreed on the content of two draft regulations known as the "two-pack". One of the key requirements under the “two-pack” which will impact on our budgetary process is that the draft budget for central government and the main parameters of the draft budgets for all the other sub-sectors of the general government must be published by 15 October each year. In light of this requirement, the Government has decided to bring Budget Day forward from the first week in December to on or before 15 October from now on. This means that Budget 2014 will be presented and published on Tuesday, 15 October this year. The EU/IMF Programme for Financial Support does not include any conditions in relation to the Budget 2014 targets. However, Ireland remains in an Excessive Deficit Procedure, and subject to the relevant requirements under that procedure.

As regards consultation, meetings take place throughout the year between my officials and those of other organisations, such as the NTMA, the Revenue Commissioners and other Government Departments, most notably the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Tax Strategy Group will also have a role here. While specific plans for Budget 2014 have yet to be finalised, it is likely that I will meet personally, as I usually do, with a number of representative organisations. I would also expect to receive many Pre-Budget Submissions from a wide variety of groups and individuals; I received in excess of 600 prior to Budget 2013. These are recorded and distributed as appropriate, both in my Department and in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, so that their content may be considered by the relevant officials in the context of Budget preparation.

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