Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the EU Economics Commissioner regarding achieving specific budget and reform measures during the next four years; if he has taken the Commissioner's advice and plans to adopt now measures to make sure debt remains on a sustainable path over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35027/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Both my officials and I are in regular contact with our European colleagues. During last week's Eurogroup meeting, I updated my colleagues on banking and about budgetary developments and challenges, including the decision of Government to publish, in the first half of November, a four year budgetary plan which will set out the measures necessary to continue along the path of restoring sustainability to the public finances and reducing the General Government Deficit to below 3% of GDP by the end of 2014. The focus of all in Government is firmly fixed on improving the fiscal and economic position.

The four year budgetary plan has been welcomed by my European colleagues, as evidenced by the statement issued by the Eurogroup, after last weeks meeting, which stated that "Ireland's track record in terms of fiscal adjustment has so far been strong and the consolidation measures taken have been effective. That is why we have confidence in the commitment of Ireland to deliver a revised multi-annual adjustment programme that will bring its deficit under the 3% target by 2014 and its public finances on a sustainable path."