Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The reality is that in elections all parties paint best case scenarios and after elections we are back to choices and hard day-to-day realities. Many Ministers for Finance would be only too glad to be able to announce a budget which has a borrowing requirement of only 0.7% next year and a decline in debt as a percentage of GDP to 34%.

Senator Higgins is wrong to minimise global influences. They are always important at any stage of economic development, be it on the up-turn or the down-turn. I was also sorry to hear Senator Browne attack the integrity of the Department of Finance. I have worked closely with members of the Department of Finance in the tax strategy group and they are people of integrity. Senators should not attack the public service.