Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Finance is pointing out very clearly, as he should, his determination to stick to the expenditure targets. He said that he is satisfied the expenditure targets set out by the Government will be met and that he is also satisfied that if further action is required, it will be taken until the next budget. That does not necessarily mean a mini-budget. The taxation measures in the budget will be set out in the Finance Bill. Obviously, if further expenditure control measures are required, they will be adopted. That is specifically what the Minister for Finance said, rather than Deputy Kenny's paraphrasing of what he said.

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