Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was not in response to a costing request. It was in response to a question on what the basis of the budget was and what would have been required to achieve a deficit of less than 3%. Having noted that there were many moving parts, the Minister's response is on record as "... a deficit of less than 3% of GDP can be achieved with a broadly neutral budget."

He said that on 2 October. There was never a suggestion that a negative adjustment of up to €1 billion would see us coming in at 2.7%. That is all I am saying. It is hard to believe that within 12 days the whole thing moved.