MEMBERS were left wondering if the House Leader, Mr Maurice Manning, knew something they did not know about the timing of the next election.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) had asked Mr Manning if, in the light of yesterday's Irish Times report, he would venture an opinion on the possibility of the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, presenting another Budget before an election was called.
Mr Quinn was in the chamber awaiting the resumption of the debate on the Finance Bill. Mr Manning suggested the Minister himself might be able to give Mr O'Toole the Budget details. He said he had no doubt whatever that the next Budget would be presented to the Dail by the same minister.
Mr O'Toole: "Before or after the election?"
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He was not enlightened further.