Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as an cur i láthair sin. While I support fiscal responsibility wholeheartedly, the key question concerns the manner in how it is achieved. Social justice and fiscal responsibility are not mutually exclusive in any way and at a time when people are dying on the streets, it is important that those elements are focused upon. One key point on which Deputy Pearse Doherty has spoken is the issue of the expenditure benchmark. It appears to me that in reality, it is an expenditure cap or an expenditure break. Given the pressures on public services and public sector pay in the next year and given that the Taoiseach already has indicated policywise that the top rate of tax will be brought down by one percentage point, from what I can discern this potentially would wipe out the 0.6% increase. It is likely that the aforementioned promise by the Taoiseach is not actually achievable within that expenditure break as it is currently, unless there is further reduction in other parts of the expenditure sheet. My first question is to confirm whether that is the case. Second, is this a real European rule or is it one of those European rules that countries regularly break and get away with? If it is a real European rule, what are the outcomes or ramifications for this country if it is breached?