Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance if in the event of a further deterioration in the public finances and or a lack of confidence by the international financial markets in the Irish economy consideration has been given within his Department to the likely involvement of the International Monetary Fund in the management of the Irish economy; the practicable implications of its involvement on the day-to-day running of the Department of Finance; if he will publish any draft consideration of this possibility as considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40446/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has taken firm action over the last two years to tackle the deterioration in the public finances. Those actions are resulting in a stabilisation of the underlying general government deficit this year. We are now preparing a Four-Year Plan for Budgets and Growth which will set out the pathway to stabilising general government debt and to bringing the deficit below 3% of GDP by the end of 2014. This is part of the wider strategy being pursued by Government which has comprehensively addressed the difficulties facing the banking system, which is bringing sustainability to the public finances and which is seeing ongoing improvements in competiveness. Pursuing these policies is essential for a return to growth, the evidence of which we are already beginning to see. Accordingly, the question posed by the Deputy does not arise. There is no question of seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund and no such request has been made.