Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have always said that there is a legal framework within which I must operate. Independent of that, however, I believe it is appropriate, given many of the risks we face and the way our domestic economy is performing, that Ireland gets to a point where it has a general Government balance that is in line with what I said at the start of my contribution. I wish to ensure that, at a time when our economy is growing and our deficit is beginning to stabilise, at a point in the future we will deliver surpluses to bring down our debt. I will ask John McCarthy to answer some of the technical questions regarding the fiscal space. However, on the question about being cautious, I am cautious. I wish to be careful that decisions we make next year get Ireland to a point that we meet the objectives we have set for ourselves in recent years.