FG asks if Opposition will be involved in budget discussion

FINE GAEL has asked if the Opposition will be included in discussing options for next month’s budget or if the Government will instead say: “That’s it lads, we’ve made our decisions and you can like it or lump it.”

The party’s finance spokesman Richard Bruton raised the issue in the Dáil as the Government prepares a severe budget for the first week in April, which will seek to raise a total of €4.5 billion to meet the collapse in tax revenues.

“Will we have a genuine opportunity to engage with options so the House can look at different options and see what is best suited to this challenge or will we return to the old situation” with a “pre-cooked passage offered to the Dáil on a take-it-or-leave-it basis”, Mr Bruton asked.

He was speaking during the Order of Business taken by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, who renewed the Government’s offer to cost any proposals put forward by the Opposition.

Mr Lenihan said the Government ultimately “will make decisions in this area because it is obliged to and is responsible to the House”, but “if you wish to participate in this process, you are welcome to do so”.

Mr Bruton said: “Let’s be honest. People have said the Opposition should participate and put forward its proposals. There is no point in putting forward proposals if the Government will use them as sticks to beat us with and not put your options on the table as well.”

He asked if there would be a “new approach to Dáil evaluation where the House would be presented with the options under consideration in each department and impact of the different options so there can be a mature debate in the House on the best way to tackle this problem”.

Mr Lenihan reiterated the Government’s willingness “to supply Opposition parties with any information you wish to have if you want to inform yourselves as to the options you believe are desirable”.