Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Finance will examine any determination or view from the Commission on future deficit or debt targets within the fiscal rules. He and I are committed to maintaining a sensible approach to the public finances and we have set our plans for next year. We are going to deliver on the deficit and on the employment targets to which we are committed. We will take account of any view from the Commission, but the approach of the Government will be to focus on balancing the books in 2018 and using resources that will be freed to address all of the challenges in the economy. As the Deputy appears to be a recent convert to the benefits of budgetary surpluses, I am sure he will be pleased when we reach that point.

See this speech in context