BUDGET 2014 WILL be the last to introduce austerity measures if the economy continues to improve, said Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Speaking today at the launch of the second progress report on the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, the Taoiseach said that it “should be the last difficult budget”.
He said that as long as the “government is able to continue its work”, the economy should improve after this autumn’s budget.
If viewing on a mobile device, please click here to listen to this clip
He also stated that budget’s aim will be to reduce the deficit to 5.1 per cent of GDP, rather than the monetary target advised by the International Monetary Fund of €3.1 billion in savings.
The Taoiseach said that the IMF, who do not believe savings made on the restructuring of promissory notes should be used to lessen austerity measures, are “entitled to their opinion”. The government’s commitment to reducing the deficit to 3 per cent ceiling set by the European Union by 2015 was reaffirmed.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say