Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The targets are challenging and the objective is to try to meet them on the basis of avoiding a detrimental effect on economic growth, jobs and investment. A serious behavioural change on everyone's part will be required. We are discussing with the Commission the method to achieve the targets. As matters stand, they would be difficult to achieve were there no flexibility. Part of the political process of interaction between governments and the Commission is to work out the details and to determine how to achieve targets in a way that does not have a negative or more expensive effect than would otherwise be the case.

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