Alex White (Labour)

The issue of growth is vital and there is precious little in the four year plan that gives any sense of the Government's plan or strategy on growth. It is correct that we should have the objective of reaching 3% by 2014, to which most parties have agreed. The question is how we get there and how quickly we think we can get there. The debate about this year's budget and whether it should be €6 billion or whether it could be achieved with a lower figure this year is reflected not just between parties in these Houses but also by outside commentators whom the Minister for Finance and many others are quick to invoke in their favour and who have taken an interest in this point as late as this morning. Twice in its editorial, the Financial Times cautions against the approach taken by the Irish Government and puts forward a compelling view that a slower move towards deficit reduction would be advisable, particularly at this stage. We know where we must be by 2014 but how quickly we think we can get there, especially in the budget for next year, is crucial. I welcome a debate on this aspect of where we are in the move towards 2014. The IMF, the European Central Bank and the European Union has an interest in this. It is striking that the IMF is taking a more nuanced and clear-headed view on the question of growth than some of our so-called European friends.