Coalition accepts support for target

TÁNAISTE MARY Coughlan said the Government accepted that Fine Gael and Labour supported the Government’s financial deficit target. She said Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan acknowledged all parties in the House accepted the need to return to the target of 3 per cent of GDP.

“The figure was agreed with the European Commission. We also agreed that this would have to be achieved by 2014 without adversely impacting on the capacity of this economy to grow,’’ Ms Coughlan added.

“That has been acknowledged and I will acknowledge it again if it has not been heard.’’

Ms Coughlan was replying to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who said it was important that she acknowledge in the House on behalf of the Government that the two main Opposition parties accepted the target agreed with the commission.

“We all understand the importance that attaches to this,’’ said Mr Gilmore. “It is a fact that both the Labour Party and Fine Gael at the time voluntarily accepted those targets.’’ Agreeing with Mr Gilmore, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny accused the Taoiseach of making “a very anodyne statement’’ on the matter. Government spin doctors were now attempting to lock in Opposition parties to their method, he said.

The two Opposition parties he said agreed what the fiscal charges were and would arrive at their own conclusions in that regard.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said it was interesting to note that at least there was an alternative in the House.

“While there seems to be unanimity between the Government parties and the two so-called main Opposition parties, there is an Opposition voice here that acknowledges that the deficit must be addressed but which has provided an argument for a very different course to be taken,’’ he added. Mr Gilmore said his party did not receive correspondence from the Department of Finance after the reported Cabinet decision that it would provide Opposition parties with information on the parameters to assist in their formulation of budgetary plans.

He said Labour had been writing to the department since April seeking that facility.

Ms Coughlan said the matter was in hand and she would ensure that Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton received a letter about it very quickly.

“It is appropriate that consideration of proposals from the Opposition will be considered by the Government following on from those discussions,’’ she added.