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

If I could just make one final brief point, it was somewhat telling that I did not get any questions on this at all. However, I need to emphasise the concluding point that I made in my opening presentation regarding the fact that the interest rate environment which Ireland will be borrowing on is changing in front of our eyes. I have been saying for some time this was going to happen and it is now happening. The era in which, in effect, free money was available to Governments is coming to an end. That will have to be taken into account in the decisions the Government makes in budget day and beyond. That is why I will be making the case for balancing our books for a low level of borrowing, because the environment we have been in for the few years is now changing and ending.