Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

No, it is not totally off the table. The Heads of Government will return to the matter.

I recognise why the Commission set out these simplistic rules and did not differentiate between current and capital expenditure because people would be creative in that regard. I accept that the rules are simplified, but there should be a matrix in relation to a country's size, debt ratio, levels of infrastructure and so on. I recognise that the proposal being put forward has some drawbacks and I also recognise the validity of the question "If we begin to go down that road where will it end?" It is a finely balanced argument for which I have made the best case possible. I have been more forthcoming here than at other fora.