Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is not a question of picking what one feel's like picking but of looking at the various assumptions that are made in various forecasts. As the Deputy is aware, forecasts are based on various assumptions. Whether one agrees with them all or not depends on what one's experience of the economy has been. Prior to this crisis, in the previous ten or 15 years the Department of Finance on annual averages has been as close to actual outcomes as anyone else. By definition, forecasts are forecasts. The four year plan has been adopted by the Government. It has been agreed as the basis for the reforms that must take place and the fiscal policies that have to be implemented. We have signed up to the targets of €6 billion by 2011 and €15 billion by 2014 that have been outlined in it. The issue that arises from the programme, as the Deputy is aware, is that while doing that, if at the end of that process - these programmes are subject to annual review so this clearly will be a matter-----

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