Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am about to answer the Deputy's question. Having reviewed the end-September returns, the Government further decided that not only was this requisite to comply with our obligations under the Stability and Growth Pact, it was also essential in addressing the deterioration of the percentage ratio of debt to gross domestic product that was emerging this year. That ratio stands at approximately 12% and the Government does not see any room for slippage in regard to that target. We need to stabilise that target now.

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