Budget information leak
Mattie McGrath condemns extensive media leaks of the Budget and asks about the data sharing Bill; the Taoiseach gives no publication date but promises updates.
I have a question about the data sharing Bill. WikiLeaks is in the ha'penny place after the leaks about the budget in the last few days. I heard the entire budget on Sean O'Rourke's programme yesterday. I know he is trying to outdo Pat Kenny but he had the entire budget, line for line and syllable by syllable. When the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, was Minister of State at the Department of Finance some years ago he had to resign over a leak half an hour before the Budget Statement. This budget was completely leaked. It is making a farce of this House.
Comment on this
The entire budget was leaked, although it was all the good bits, not the bad bits.
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I am not mixed up. The Taoiseach is mixed up, with spin doctors.
Comment on this
I do not have a date for the publication of the data sharing Bill but I will advise the Deputy as progress is made on it, so he will be fully informed line by line.
Comment on this
Deputy Mattie McGrath should change the dial.