Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Finance when he will publish the Spring Economic Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8740/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the requirements of Regulation 1466/97, each Member State is required to present an annual update of its Stability Programme to the European Commission no later than the end of April. A draft Stability Programme Update was laid before the Oireachtas and debated in the Dáil on April 27^thand will be formally submitted to Brussels by Friday 29^thApril.

Last year, Ireland's SPU was accompanied by a Spring Economic Statement (SES) for the first time. The SES set out in broad terms the Government's economic priorities and fiscal strategy over the medium term and represented an important stage in the reform of the Budgetary process. 

In view of the ongoing discussions on Government formation at present, any decision to publish such a statement would be for the incoming Government but I believe it is a worthwhile initiative which should be continued.