Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I had not imagined the Minister would divulge the budget’s details today. However, I am concerned about what he said about the 5.1% target and that he would target the high fours, trying to bring the deficit into the 4% area. Where is the sense behind that? He said there was a delicate balance between closing the deficit and achieving economic growth. When the Government came into office, the first projection it had for 2013 was 3% growth, but we have not seen that. The Tánaiste said we should just hit the target and not go beyond it. Is it Noonan’s way instead of Gilmore’s way on the 5.1% target?

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