THE GOVERNMENT has announced that two days will be devoted to a pre-budget debate in the Dáil the week after next.
Government Chief Whip Pat Carey said last night the debate would give TDs an opportunity to set out their views on how they believed Ireland could be returned to economic stability and growth.
“I appreciate the concerns raised by Opposition representatives in relation to access to relevant financial information. The Minister for Finance has renewed his commitment that his department will provide comprehensive briefing on the evolving budgetary situation prior to the debate,” said Mr Carey.
“Now is a time for us to work together. The debate on March 24th and 25th allows us to show common cause in tackling the economic challenges facing Ireland.”
However, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said the response he gets from Taoiseach Brian Cowen to a letter seeking detailed information about the State’s financial position will determine whether his party is prepared to play a role in the pre-budget process.
Speaking during a constituency visit to Carlow-Kilkenny, Mr Gilmore said Labour could only make a meaningful contribution to the process if it was provided with the same information that is available to the Government.
“There is acceptance on all sides of the Dáil of the seriousness of the economic crisis we are now facing and of the absolute necessity of getting the April 7th budget right, particularly in view of the utter failure of the October budget,” said Mr Gilmore.
He said the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan had invited Opposition parties to engage with the Government in preparing the budget and Labour was willing to do this but it needed certain basic information.
“Following Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday morning, I am not satisfied that the Government accepts the need for Opposition parties to have access to the sort of information that we will require.
“I put a series of questions to the Taoiseach on Wednesday which he seemed unwilling or unable to answer. I have now written to the Taoiseach seeking this information. The response I get from the Taoiseach will determine the extent to which we can play a useful role in this process,” said Mr Gilmore.
He said that in unprecedented economic times the normal pre-budget process whereby the Dáil and Opposition parties were kept in the dark and then presented with predetermined decisions on budget day was not adequate.
“One of the key judgments that must be made on budget day will be the need to balance the requirement to get the public finances back in order by reducing expenditure and increasing revenue with the need not to do further damage to the economy,” he said.
“I share the concerns expressed by a number of economic commentators that taking too much money out of the economy on budget day will cause further economic problems.”
