In advance of Budget 2013 I met, along with Minister Howlin, a number of representative organisations. These were IBEC, ICTU, the IFA, the ICMSA, the Construction Industry Federation and the Community and Voluntary Pillar. The Pillar, as the Deputy will be aware, comprises seventeen separate organisations. In addition, I met with other organisations including the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, the Irish Road Haulage Association, Retail Ireland, the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies - Ireland and Property Industry Ireland.
In the run-up to the Budget I have received to date some 540 Pre-Budget Submissions from a wide variety of groups and individuals. Many of these have suggested a meeting either with me or with my officials. Even allowing for some duplication amongst the Submissions, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be impossible to organise meetings on this scale and it is a question of arranging to meet a representative selection of organisations. However, all Pre-Budget Submissions received are recorded and distributed as appropriate, both in my Department and in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, so that their content may be considered by the relevant officials in the context of Budget preparation.