Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The €15 billion figure is a forecast, like every other forecast. If we perform better than 2.75% annual growth, the level of uplift we must take with regard to cutting expenditure and raising taxes will not be as great. We believe one must take a prudential view, acceptable based on forecasts that others make of prospects for world and European growth in the coming years. Based on all the discussions we have had, we believe that prospect is provided for.

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