Plan's final sections go to Cabinet today

FOUR-YEAR PLAN:THE FINAL chapters of the Government's four-year plan are to go to Cabinet this afternoon but may not be approved until later in the month, a senior political source said last night. A number of chapters have already been approved at Cabinet level.

Sources said there would be “about half-a-dozen or so” chapters in the final document, which was being prepared by the Department of Finance.

The completed document, which is described as “very substantial”, will be launched at the Government Press Centre on Merrion Street and will also be available on the internet.

Topics covered in the plan include expenditure, taxation and competitiveness, among others.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said yesterday the plan “will be presented before the end of the month”.

He told interviewer Áine Lawlor on RTÉ's Morning Irelandprogramme that "as it is a plan for four years, it requires very great care by the Government in formulating a final version and that work is well under way and at an advanced stage".

On reports of a possible Irish bailout request, the Minister said: “The finance ministers of the euro zone are determined to take whatever action is needed to safeguard financial stability throughout the euro area. That includes Ireland.”

Talks with European representatives on the Irish banking situation would begin today.

“What we’ve agreed to do is to look at the structural problems in the Irish banks in the light of recent market pressures and assess what needs to be done, because banking questions are technical and difficult.”

On the question of possible bilateral aid from the UK, Mr Lenihan said: “I know that the British authorities are anxious to ensure that any help Ireland needs will be given. So again it’s a matter for the United Kingdom authorities, it’s not a matter for the Irish authorities.”