Taoiseach silent on publication of report

TAOISEACH Brian Cowenrefused to be drawn on whether the Government will publish the "Bord Snip Nua'' report.

He confirmed Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan expected to receive the report this week.

“It is not envisaged that we would act on that report on its receipt; it is part of the budgetary process for 2010,’’ he added.

Mr Cowen was replying to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who noted that Mr Cowen had said that the recommendations of the Expenditure Review Committee would put order on the public finances.

He claimed it was the Government’s intention to receive it after the Dáil had gone into recess and selectively leak its contents in a softening-up exercise during the summer. “I want to see the report before we break for the summer,’’ said Mr Gilmore.

Mr Cowen said the Government would begin compiling estimates and preparing for the 2010 budget after mid-year. “That work will continue throughout the autumn. There will be plenty of opportunity in the next session for deputies to discuss all aspects of expenditure policy in a range of areas.

“The Government will make the decisions on the precise areas of savings which are necessary, unavoidable, which will not be in any way painless, but which must be made in the interest of correcting the public finances and having a prospect of growing the economy as quickly as possible.

“We know, from recent economic history, that deferral of that sort of decision, under previous administrations at certain times, greatly prolonged the period within which Ireland will be able to come back into growth and create jobs again.’’

Mr Cowen said it was hoped to have the Nama legislation prepared this month.

“There will be ample time for everyone to study it. We will come back here in mid-September and have the opportunity to debate and enact the legislation, which is essential and must be enacted.’’

Fine Gael leader Enda Kennychallenged Mr Cowen on the Government's plans for jobcreation given that there were now 418,000 people on the live register and small businesses were going to the wall by the day.

Mr Cowen said any plan to create jobs must be predicated on a return to growth in the Irish economy.