Could I ask two questions? Firstly, will the plan, in terms of its philosophical approach to the economic management of our economy, be significantly different from previous plans published by the Fianna Fáil administration? If the answer to that question is in the affirmative, could the Taoiseach indicate in which way specifically, with particular reference to the direction of financial institutions in our society?

The Deputy will appreciate that the plan, on the preparation of which we are engaged at present, must differ significantly from previous plans in that circumstances have radically altered. For instance, I am sure the Deputy will recall that the First Programme for Economic Expansion set a very modest target of a 2 per cent increase in gross national product. A figure of that sort would hardly be relevant to our circumstances today. The major difference is that the plan which we are preparing now will be directly related to current circumstances and conditions and current needs and requirements. The Deputy also asked about financial institutions. Our financial situation and the public finances will be an integral part of the plan, and arrangements have been made for full consultation in that regard.

Arising from the Taoiseach's reply and his association of the suggested plan with previous programmes, perhaps he would tell the House how it will qualitively differ from previous programmes and, if it is a programme that is similar to the others in methodology, why is it being called a plan? If it is being called a plan, will it list social objectives that the first programme to which the Taoiseach has alluded did not state? Will it have a statement as to the combination of resources and likely outcomes that we might expect in a plan?

I do not want to go too much further into details at this stage, except perhaps to repeat for the Deputy what I gave as the broad outline objectives of the plan, namely, the generation of the maximum increase in sustainable employment, the restoration of the balance of payments to more acceptable levels, reduction in the rate of inflation and maintenance of living standards and making them more equitable. I have already explained that this is a short- or medium-term plan to try to deal with the immediate problems confronting us and, at the same time and in parallel, we will be preparing long-term planning structures which would probably be a more appropriate place in which to incorporate the Deputy's suggestion about social requirements.