Labour leader Eamon Gilmore told the Dáil this morning that he will reply later today to the Taoiseach’s invitation to opposition leaders for talks on an all-party consensus on the economy.
Mr Gilmore asked Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who was taking the Order of Business, what arrangements would be made for the publication of departmental estimates.
It used to be the practice, he said, that they were published in advance of a budget.
"The Government changed that practice, and in the past two or three years, the estimates have been published only on Budget day," he added.
Ms Coughlan said she welcomed the acceptance by Mr Gilmore and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny of the invitation to talks with the Taoiseach.
Department of Finance officials, she said, would provide the briefing to Opposition members with a view to having a meeting for further discussion and deliberation with Mr Cowen.
Her expectation was that the estimates would be published in a similar manner to the past two years.
Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk later adjourned the Dáil for 10 minutes when Dublin South Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter refused to resume his seat after raising the progress made in public service reform.
Mr Kirk pointed out that he was out of order under the Dáil's standing orders.