Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The four-year plan will set out as a confidence-building measure in respect of the strategy that this and successive Governments will have to make on the adjustment of more than €15 billion. People will be able to make their political choices, that have to be made on an annual budgetary basis, but the plan has to set out what the level of correction is and proceed from there. The votes taken by the House on economic and financial policy in the country happen in the budget process with regard to the finance Bill and the decisions to be taken on Books of Estimates on an annual basis . With regard to the plan, it is a plan that can be set out and debated in the House this week and next.

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