Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are pressed for time. We are not giving away anything. The figures show the Government is overshooting its targets and, as the Minister remarked earlier, bond rates are substantially lower. However, that is a result of the austerity and the pressure that ordinary people in this State have had to endure. That is what has resulted in these positives. While the markets may be pleased and while Merkel and others may be pleased, many people are at the pin of their collar and cannot take any more. When they see that we are overshooting they are hoping there will be some reprieve.

I wish to crystallise the matter. I asked the fiscal advisory council the same question and its representatives suggested we should try to hit the 3% target but no further. Is it the opinion of the Minister that by 2015 we will hit 3% and go no further? Is the Minister willing to make whatever adjustment can be made or whatever let-up can be introduced before then to reach the 3% target? The target is 3% and not 2.8%, 2.7% or 2.2%, as the Minister has presented. Is that the position of the Government?