Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I have explained to Deputy Ó Caoláin that the statement from the IMF was not in the context of the programme that we are operating or next year's budget. It was under the Article IV process which involves medium to long-term recommendations. It is not a case of ruling out something in terms of next year's budget. These are recommendations made for the long term. The IMF does this for every country; it is a periodic thing done under the Article IV process. It is not something the Government has to follow and it is not part of the programme. We will deal with the issues relating to the budget when we come to budget time and when the Government makes decisions in respect of the budget.

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