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

You said that in the approach to the 2007 general election that Fine Gael accepted the independent economic forecasts by the Department of Finance and the ESRI, for example, but can I put it to you Taoiseach that not only did Fine Gael accept the economic forecasts, but you also contested the election, competing on the same ground as the outgoing Government parties. For example, the promises on 2,300 more hospital beds; free health insurance for every child under 16; 100,000 more medical cards; 2,000 more gardaí on our streets; increase the old age pension to €300; effectively abolish stamp duty; cutting income tax; an increase in current spending projected over the five years of €17.4 billion; a tax package of €2.4 billion. So not only did you accept the broad macroeconomic forecast but you were actually competing on the same ground of cutting taxes, raising public spending and investing in public services and in capital expenditure. Was it not broadly the same message?