Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

To get to the 3% deficit, we know what is coming down the tracks in terms of reductions and cutbacks of €3.8 billion this year and €3.2 billion next year. Surely, before the Taoiseach agreed to this treaty, he had some idea of what figures are involved in getting us to the 0.5% target to which we are told there must be rapid convergence. Will the Minister of State explain what are the cutbacks or expenditure reductions over the period, and what period of time is involved in regard to the 0.5%?

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