Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to make too much of it. In very simplistic terms, and the committee is very familiar with it, it is like running a race. One must run a mile-long race. If one gets odds of a quarter of a mile, one only has to run three-quarters. If one's year-end position is better than the budget position of 4.8%, as one goes down - 4.7%. 4.6%, 4.5% and 4.4% - one has less correction to do in the subsequent budget.