Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2010
142 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the reason the budget night information leaflet from the Department of Finance contained political statements as opposed to budget facts as has been the standard practice for many years; when such a fact sheet will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47863/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget process is the key mechanism through which Government fiscal policy is determined and presented each year. Generally, therefore, the annual Budget booklet is a necessarily long and very detailed publication.
In order to provide Deputies and others with the key information with regard to the main budgetary aggregates and the taxation and expenditure policy measures being introduced, in a quick and easily accessible format, the practice has developed whereby a Budget Summary Leaflet is prepared as part of the Budget documentation.
The contents of this leaflet are not formally prescribed but generally the information contained in it is based on the contents of the Financial Statement of the Minister for Finance.
The Budget 2011 Summary Leaflet contains a significant amount of factual information on the measures introduced in Budget 2011, including in the areas of taxation, public spending and the labour market. It also sets the context in which Budget 2011 is being introduced, namely the requirement for a significant fiscal adjustment to be implemented in order to continue with the process of restoring sustainability to the public finances and the recently announced joint IMF/EU programme of financial assistance. I deemed this to be appropriate in the context of the very significant complexities of the current economic situation.
