Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

I would be grateful if the Taoiseach would answer the question as to whether he stands by the 1.3% figure. If he does not, it would have serious implications for the budgetary arithmetic and the prospects for the introduction of a mini-budget, sudden taxation measures and future budgets. Will the Taoiseach anticipate or respond to one of the independent commentators, namely, Goodbodys, which states we will no longer be able to meet our deficit target of 3% of GDP in 2015, not through the fault of the Government but as a result of the recession in Europe?

What contingency plan do we have to deal with a situation such as that? Is it to impose further austerity, to look for a deal on the debt or simply to live in hope that something will go right and the recession will end?

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