21 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department is in receipt of pre-budget submissions from bodies who did not make such submissions to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24161/96]

26 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department is in receipt of pre-budget submissions from bodies who did not make such submissions to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24162/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 26 together.

A number of pre-budget submissions were received in the Department of Finance from interested parties who, it is understood, did not make their submissions directly to the Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs and further submissions continue to be received from various persons or representative groups who choose to write to the Minister. The Deputy will be aware that the committee's orders of reference as amended by the Dáil on 4 July inserted a proviso that nothing in the orders of reference should prejudice the right of individuals to meet with the Minister for Finance with a view to making pre-budget submissions directly to him in accordance with long-standing practice.