Taoiseach insists budget cannot be brought forward

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen insisted the December budget could not be brought forward to next week.

He said Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan had agreed a timeline with EU commissioner Olli Rehn.

It was very important, Mr Cowen added, in terms of meeting fiscal targets and getting the full-year impact of the plans in place, that the budget be proceeded with on the date set out.

“And we want to do that properly and appropriately.”

Mr Cowen said the best statement of confidence for the State was to pass the budget.

He was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who noted Mr Cowen had emphasised the importance of the budget being passed. The first year of the four-year plan, to be published today, was effectively the 2011 budget, he added.

Urging the Taoiseach to introduce the budget next week, Mr Kenny said a slimmed-down version of the Finance Bill could be put through the House with the budget’s key ingredients.

He said he would agree to the House sitting from Monday to Friday next week, facilitating the completion of the necessary legislative work by Christmas.

“This will bring some measure of certainty to a Government that is out of control.”

Mr Kenny said the authority of the Government, and trust in it, had evaporated in the past week.

Having been told only last week that there was not a need for outside intervention or help, people had watched in horror as the IMF, the ECB and the European Commission arrived in Dublin.

Within three days the Taoiseach had announced a formal application for a bailout.

Mr Kenny accused Mr Cowen and his colleagues of engaging in an ongoing attempt to cling to power at all costs.

He assured the Taoiseach that Fine Gael would “act constructively in the interests of Ireland . . . stability and confidence that is needed both here and internationally’’.

Denying that he was clinging to office, Mr Cowen said his sole motivation was to ensure that the four-year plan was published and the budget passed by the House.

The Taoiseach said he was anxious to ensure he represented the taxpayer and the people of the State.

He said it was the intention of any government, at any time, to represent the people to the best possible extent.