Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In general terms, as we face into more moderate growth rates in the immediate years ahead, the level of resources that will become available means that we must use the existing level of resources as efficiently as possible. The role of Government is to ensure that this happens. In respect of competitiveness, inflation and price stability, we will continue to have a budgetary stance that best guarantees that outcome.

While the international situation and sentiment have deteriorated, we are in a position of relative strength because the policies of the Government have halved our indebtedness during good times and have put in place a national development plan which seeks to deal with infrastructure bottlenecks. This would enhance our competitiveness through that kind of investment and the type of planned investment we have in science, technology and innovation. All these are real building blocks to maintain and enhance growth prospects in the years ahead.

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