THE TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan will hold weekly meetings up until the budget on December 9th, as efforts intensify to find €4 billion in cuts and address the gap in the State’s finances.
Mr Cowen hosted a two-hour meeting in Government Buildings yesterday afternoon attended by Mr Lenihan and officials from both departments. The Taoiseach’s spokesman confirmed the meetings between both men and their officials will take place every Monday afternoon during November and into early December. He said it would effectively bring to three the number of high-level meetings on the budget involving Cabinet members each week. A special Cabinet meeting on budgetary matters takes place each Thursday and the routine Cabinet meeting, each Tuesday, has been almost wholly dominated by the public finances over the past few months.
Asked if the personal and direct involvement of the Taoiseach in the budgetary process in this manner was an unusual departure, the spokesman responded that it was not a normal or usual budget and the intensive participation of Mr Cowen in the process highlighted that, as well as the need for close co-operation between the two men.
“ have met a few times to discuss the budget already. But this [series of regular meetings] is a further illustration of the significance and importance of this budget and the fact that the Taoiseach is dealing with it in this manner reflects that,” he said.
The meeting was held on the eve of today’s publication of the Exchequer figures for October. Officials said yesterday that the figures were unlikely to be dramatic but would continue the trend seen so far this year for which a deficit of at least €22 billion has been forecast.
It is understood that Mr Cowen and Mr Lenihan discussed the Pre-Budget Outlook, which it is expected will be published next week.
The Department of Finance said yesterday that the report on higher remuneration in the public service will not be discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting.
The department spokesman said Mr Lenihan had not yet read the document. It is widely anticipated the report of the review body will recommend cuts in salary for the 1,600 or so highest earners in the Civil Service, local authorities, the HSE, other State agencies, An Garda Síochána, universities and the Defence Forces. It is also likely to recommend a voluntary cut in salary by judges.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party said yesterday the party’s position on public service pay was unchanged, notwithstanding comments by TD Seán Sherlock that public service salaries over €50,000 must come under scrutiny.
The party spokesman said yesterday that leader Eamon Gilmore has said he does not agree with across-the-board cuts in basic pay but believes that the overall pay bill must be addressed and reduced.
Mr Sherlock said on RTÉ yesterday that his comments were made in a personal capacity.