Vol. 510 No. 4
60 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the groups he has met in recent weeks to discuss budget strategy; the groups or individuals he will meet between now and December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22695/99]
In my formal round of pre-budget meetings on 3 and 5 November I met the following groups: Drinks Industry Group of Ireland; Irish Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association; Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament; Irish Farmers' Association; Irish Tobacco Manufacturers' Advisory Committee; Society of the Irish Motor Industry; Construction Industry Federation; Irish Business and Employers' Confederation; Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association; Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies – Ireland; Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union (IMPACT); Irish Congress of Trade Unions; Partnership 2000 Community & Voluntary Pillar; Small Firms Association.
I have no plans at present to meet any other groups or individuals between now and December 1999 to discuss budget strategy.
Deputies will appreciate that I receive numerous requests from various organisations for pre-budget meetings but, due to a heavy schedule of work leading up to the budget, I am unable to accede to all of these requests.
