John Bruton
Ceist:69 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the targets, if any, he has for Exchequer borrowing requirements and the debt/GNP ratio for each of the years from 1994 to 1997.
Written Answers. - Exchequer Borrowing Requirements/GNP Ratio.
I would refer the Deputy to the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997. In the section which summarises the Government's policy in the budgetary area, there is a fundamental commitment to the maintenance of . . . “firm control of our public finances so that there is a steady reduction in the national debt/GDP ratio”. This commitment is further defined in the programme by a reference to the budgetary convergence criteria of the Maastricht Treaty, which require adherence to an annual General Government Deficit of around 3% or less of GDP, and the reduction of the debt/GDP ratio towards 60%.