Vol. 481 No. 2
24 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has for tighter fiscal discipline in view of the fact that this was referred to in An Action Programme for the Millennium as being necessary for successful EMU entry. [15636/97]
The key priorities for Government budgetary policies were outlined in An Action Programme for the Millennium. These include: to run a current budget surplus; to eliminate Exchequer borrowing over the next two to three years, if present conditions continue; to limit net current spending growth to 4 per cent, which is broadly equivalent to the 2 per cent growth in real terms agreed in Partnership 2000, and capital spending growth to 5 per cent on average up to 1999, and to reduce overall Government spending as a share of national output, and to fulfil the terms and commitments of Partnership 2000.
As regards my detailed proposals, these will be announced on budget day.
