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

I revert to some of the questions I asked earlier. To return to the issue of contract manufacturing, there is annualised growth of 2.5%, but this is based on six month figures. Has the council projected to where it will be at the end of the year? What component will contract manufacturing make up in the 4.7% growth rate anticipated this year? That is the way we calculate growth rates, but from a simplistic viewpoint, if we look at the rules under which the council is asked to advise the State, they concern the capacity to manage debt or deficits. When growth is generated in this way, which is not real, the impression is given that the country is booming because we have a 4.7% growth rate; therefore, people think there must be a lot of activity and work being done. However, the majority of it is not genuine activity. I am open to correction if I am wrong.