Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Stability and Growth Pact statement includes an annual tax prediction. Factored into this are the matters about the offset of taxation to which the Deputy referred. My Department has advised me it is confident the €2 billion reduction envisaged in the Stability and Growth Pact will be secured as the Government, by virtue of this decision taken several weeks into the year, has already secured €1.8 billion in savings.

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