Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Finance if the measures taken in the 2009 budget were effective in terms of achieving their targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45231/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last eighteen months the Government has taken action on a number of occasions, including the measures introduced in Budget 2009, to address the large gap which has opened up between revenue and expenditure as a result of the deterioration in the economic environment. The overall 2009 deficit position has been improved by the various measures the Government have taken by the order of 5% of GDP. That said a significant deficit still remains in the public finances which is currently being met by borrowing. It is not sustainable to continue to borrow at such a high-level in the medium to longer term and action must be taken to stabilise the deficit and then over the coming years reduce it. Budget 2010 is being framed in this context.