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Budget 2012: Speech of Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin

Published: Tuesday, December 06, 2011

As I begin, I would just like to say that I am conscious that the last Minister who stood up here to announce the Government's spending plans was the late Brian Lenihan. I believe that it is appropriate that his commitment to his country and the public interest should be acknowledged here today.

Tomorrow Minister Noonan will deliver his first Budget as Minister for Finance.

Today I am, on behalf of the Government, announcing the Expenditure Estimates which will complement tomorrow's announcements. I would like to thank my parliamentary colleagues for facilitating this changed arrangement. The change is not simply about two Departments and two Ministers. Our budgetary process, as I will outline later, is about to change fundamentally.

I would like to thank all of my colleagues in Government for their support during this process. This is a collective effort, with all members of the Government involved.

Click here to see the speech in full.....