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YESTERDAY’S BUDGET could be the last in Irish history to be delivered in December, the ministers responsible for delivering it have said.
Brendan Howlin said the government was looking to address the annual habit of having to announce cost-saving measures in the run-up to Christmas, one of the most expensive times of the year.
Michael Noonan told RTÉ Radio 1 that proposals currently before the European Parliament – the so-called ‘two pack’ – would see Eurozone countries required to submit their annual budgets to Brussels to ensure they do not breach deficit guidelines.
This is a follow-on to the terms of the Fiscal Compact treaty agreed by Ireland and Eurozone countries earlier this year, which places legal limits on the size of a country’s budget deficits, relative to the size of its own economy.
The two-pack measures would mean countries would submit their draft Budgets for oversight by October, so that countries which have breached their agreements can be asked to amend them.
Noonan said the government had yet to decide on the exact impact this would have for Ireland.
Ministers were still “wondering whether to bring it in as a draft” in October, and allow two months of debate and reaction to its terms, or to bring the actual Budget process forward by two months so that the version being submitted to Europe was the final edition.
“I’m not too sure our system would sustain a draft budget announced in October, and everybody ganging up to stop it between then and December,” he said.
Howlin added that the programme for government contained a commitment to give the Dáil greater involvement in the Budget-making process, and this was something he intended to develop in the coming years.
The comments followed remarks by Pat Kenny that many of the Budget’s most difficult measures, like the property tax, had been leaked to the media in advance of the Budget so as to soften the public and blunt the impact of the government’s actions.
Noonan said it was “right to be critical” of the leaking culture, saying this was “not the way to do business”.
“As we get closer to the date, the circle of people who actually know what’s in the Budget gets very wide,” he conceded.
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Hope Howlin and Noonan are right and this will be the last budget they ever deliver.
10 months til next budget so. Smooth move…
Six; six months…due to cutbacks all even numbered months will be discontinued until the economy recovers.
Operative as of midnight tonight. We go straight into January at 12.00 hours GMT(God Mammon Time, on the new calendar to be issued at the church gate collection next Sunday for the below-mentioned worthy cause).
The savings in Christmas spending will thus be carried over directly into the Troika Benevolent Fund for the sustenance of indigent bankers in these trying times.
Still find it hard to believe they didn’t cut their own pay and pensions ,also the very well heeled in the PS.But yet were able to make the difficult choice of cutting 325 off the respite grant.If i was a cynic i”d say this cut was made so they can row back on it,divert our attention from other aspects of the budget.
No matter the budget has proved to be another nail in Labours coffin.
I’m not in fairness to Howlin he ruled that out in November. About the only truthful statement he’s come out with in recent times.
of. course no cut. to there pay. thy are not stupid . but we are for letting them get away wit it
I think this would be the only well thought out idea the so called goverment has ever had. The strain people have at this time of year is amazing. Also people who suffer with mental health problems go threw so much undew stress because of this. The best thing they could do is scrap this at december and make it during the middle of the year but also taking in to account not for taxes and hikes to kick in on the month of december. Dont just think about your pockets think about peoples mental health the amount of unannouced sucided around christmas is very high.
Let’s have one every week, I’ve still got a few things left, clothes I stand in and just over €4.00, please take it Mr Troika,
Oh mark thats even worse then I thought, god how clued in are kids today let me go back to the 80′s and the biggest wonder in my life was who controls the traffic lights :)
Next budget is April. We will all take a hit in that one.
Stop it Rob, I can’t take any more :-(
Good point ciaran. Coming up to Christmas is stressful enough for family’s who are trying there best with the mess this country’s in. If you just mention your not working for a few days my kids ask are we going to lose the house.
It’s a sad reflection of the state of affairs in Ireland when even the kids are scared.
Listen to Noonan’s attitude to people who are paying their Mortages,who are in Negitive Equity. Jump to 13:45 (around) to hear his comment…..so out of touch.
The beatings will continue until morale improves….
People to say this government to be a thing of the past
Sorry Dex but its true – They are just keeping the budget from hell until April.
This budget hasn’t really affected the average workers monthly pay check and unfortunetly they wont let us of that easy.
I agree with the headline. Budgets will be a thing of the past for FG, Lab and F F just as soon as we can get rid of them!!
I think this idea merits investigation, I agree that early December is poor timing for a budget announcement. It could lessen the pressure and stress experienced by people in the lead up to Christmas.
…could be the last…? I think I’d prefer a politicians promise to a politicians maybe…
have your say