Eamon Ryan
Question:140 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if the Government is supportive of the continued operation of the Stability and Growth Pact governing Exchequer borrowing limits. [21602/02]
Written Answers. - Stability and Growth Pact.
Eamon Ryan
Question:222 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the Government's views on the continued operation of the Stability and Growth Pact governing Exchequer borrowing limits. [21629/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 222 together.
Ireland fully supports the Stability and Growth Pact, key elements of which were agreed at the Dublin European Council in December 1996. The Government underlined its commitment to the pact in its programme where it is described as providing the overriding framework for budgetary policy.
The pact measures the budgetary position on a general Government basis rather than on an Exchequer basis. The general Government measure includes the fiscal position of all non-commercial public bodies as well as funds such as the Social Insurance Fund and the National Pensions Reserve Fund.