Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They are not on a knife edge. How can the Deputy say that? In the next 18 to 24 months, the Government aims to balance the books. That is not a definition of a knife edge. Some of the matters to which the Deputy referred come within the remit of the Minister for Finance and he will provide answers on them. As I stated, we will achieve balance in these areas by making steady and incremental change. Public expenditure should be increased and taxes reduced at a steady, moderate pace. I disagree with the Deputy that we are in a knife edge scenario. We were on a knife edge when nobody would lend to us but that is no longer the case.