ENDA KENNY has asked the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, to arrange that the Budget be brought forward to next week in order to facilitate an early general election.

Speaking at Leaders’ Questions in the Dáíl this afternoon, Kenny acknowledged the Taoiseach’s desire to ensure the safe passage of the Budget through the Dáil in order to guarantee the progression of discussions with the IMF and EU about Ireland’s emergency bailout.

If the Dáil sat for all five days of next week – something Kenny said he was prepared to help arrange – the Budget could be announced early and a “slimmed-down” version of the Finance Bill passed through the Dáil, allowing for the economic framework underpinning the bailout talks to be laid while the Dáil was dissolved and a general election was held.

Responding, Brian Cowen said that while he appreciated the gesture made by Kenny, he could not accept it, because the Budget’s financial modelling laid a heavy emphasis on the state’s tax returns for the month of November, which would not be finalised until early next month.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, meanwhile, asked when the government expected to finalise the legislative aspects of the Budget, noting that the Finance Bill – the substantial legal part of any Budget – was not passed last year until March 30.

Cowen said he could not offer an exact timeline, but hoped that the process would be complete by mid-February, at which point he could then seek the dissolution of the Dáil.

Cowen also rejected any accusations that he was “clinging to power”, saying that he was not “n the business of using this situation” for his personal or for Fianna Fáil’s political gain.

Both main opposition parties remarked on the absence of the Green Party from the Dáil chamber; the six Green TDs only attended after a vote was called on the Dáil order of business.

The government won its vote on the order of business by 79 votes to 75; independent TDs Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish and Mattie McGrath all voted on the government side, while Joe Behan voted against. Jackie Healy-Rae did not record a vote; it could not be ascertained whether he was absent or had abstained.