Senator Higgins spoke about pre-election splurges. I again draw his attention to the IMF and OECD studies of the Irish economy, which were referred to in a previous economic debate in April and August this year. They took the view that, coming into the downturn, the increase in public expenditure and in public service staffing was good. It helped achieve a soft landing for the economy. They equally took the view that we were correct to pull in the reins in 2003 and 2004. However it has been done and whatever the motive was, we have achieved a soft landing for the economy and can look forward to the future. I do not accept the criticisms of economic policy. The lag in adjustment from the end of the Celtic tiger economy, which was probably the second quarter of 2001, and pulling the reins tighter on public spending was economically beneficial.