Ivor Callely
Question:2 Mr. Callely asked the Taoiseach the aggregate inflation figures for Ireland in the years 1982 to 1987 and 1987 to 1992; the same for Britain; and the average for EC member states.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Inflation Rates.
Inflation in Ireland was 35.4 per cent in the period 1982 to 1987 and 17.0 per cent in the period 1987 to 1992. Inflation in the United Kingdom in the same periods was 25.5 per cent and 35.9 per cent respectively. The corresponding average inflation rates for the EC member states were 31.8 per cent and 25.9 per cent.
I thank the Minister for the information and, tongue in cheek, congratulate him and Fianna Fáil because it was under an excellent Fianna Fáilled administration that such figures were achieved.
What about the partnership?
Will the Minister indicate the projections for inflation for the next five years? Has it been brought to the Minister's attention that, as some economists indicate, in the event of inflation there is greater spending in the economy?
I do not have the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the next five years. The Irish inflation rate for the most recent 12 month period — August 1992 to August 1993 — is 1.4 per cent. In the last seven years the inflation rate here has been consistently lower than that in the UK and the EC.
Will the Minister give the figure for inflation for 1982 when Fine Gael took over from Fianna Fáil and for 1987 when, unfortunately for the country, Fine Gael handed over to Fianna Fáil?
The inflation rate for 1982 was 17.1 per cent and in 1987, 3.2 per cent.
Will the Minister, therefore, accept and confirm to his back-bench Deputy that the Fine Gael-led Government which was in office between 1982 and 1987 was successful in reducing the inflation rate by 14 per cent?
There was a consistent Labour ingredient.
Thanks to the Labour Party, we had some help.
The question before us is essentially a statistical question and matters of policy ought not therefore arise.
In reply to the Deputy's statistical question, the inflation rate fell from 17.1 per cent in 1982 to 3.2 per cent in 1987. In the following year the inflation rate fell by a further 1 per cent to 2.1 per cent.
Fianna Fáil continued the trend.
Are there any figures available for the anticipated rate of inflation for the next couple of years, particularly in view of the Government's failure to reach agreement with the trade unions on a new Programme for Economic and Social Progress?
As I have already said, this question is purely statistical. I am proceeding now to priority questions to the Minister for Education.
Due to a printing error, the caption, Questions Nominated for Priority, appears in the wrong place on today's Order Paper. It should appear before questions to the Minister for Education and not before questions to the Taoiseach. I ask that we endeavour to dispose of these five questions within the 20 minutes laid down in Standing Orders.