Cowen spending plans under attack

FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen was last night accused of trying to “steamroller” through multi-billion euro spending plans without proper Dáil scrutiny.

Labour refused to engage in discussions over planned reform of the Budget and Estimates process, branding the Government’s stance undemocratic and an affront to the constitution. Finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said Mr Cowen’s ruling out of scrutiny over “spending yet to happen” made the exercise redundant.

“This appears to rule out any role for the Dáil or its committees in the ex ante evaluation of major spending proposals and as such would render the proposed exercise pointless.