I would like to ask about the programme for Government commitment to "open up the budget process to the full glare of public scrutiny in a way that restores confidence and stability by exposing and cutting failing programmes and pork barrel politics". Will the Taoiseach consider giving time in the House to a debate on the budgetary positions of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, the IMF and the European Commission, all of which have expressed concern at the Government's stated budgetary policy and are clearly at odds with the Government's intentions in the budget, which is due in the next few weeks? We are in the extraordinary position in which the chairman of the independent fiscal council is threatening resignation because he is so frustrated at having that body's advice repeatedly ignored by the Government. Will the Taoiseach consider a transparent, open debate in this Chamber and at the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of the budget to ensure that the views of those bodies are heard, that both Opposition and Government Members can be heard and that the Government can have an opportunity to explain itself in advance of the budget and not after the fact?

The Deputy raised a valid point. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is independent and it was set up by Government to be objective and provide independent analysis of its view of the state of the nation economically. The Deputy will have read the report and the recommendations of the council. The same applies in respect of the IMF, the Commission and many other financial institutions and financial houses that make their views known on the economy as it evolves. At the end of the day, the Government has to make political decisions-----

It is the Parliament, actually.

-----and we are in the process of preparing for the budget on 14 October. The Deputy's request is that the finance committee should discuss this.

Or have a full debate in the Chamber.

We have a pretty packed legislative agenda, but I will report to the Chairman of the finance committee. There is no objection here at all. These are all public reports. There are many different views even within them as to what decisions should be taken. The Government will sit down and make decisions at the end of the day and that has got to be done in the next week to ten days. I will inform the chairman of the committee.