In the course of his budget speech the Minister for Finance indicated that there was no scope for public pay increases this year other than the 2 per cent due under the 25th round. Will the Taoiseach confirm that that remains the Government's policy?

The situation as outlined by the Minister for Finance in the budget speech is Government policy. That would be a very natural thing for the Deputy to accept.

He did not seem to think so himself, in a television interview 24 hours later.

This Government has already given several clear statements of our determination to adhere to that strategy of the budget, and I am glad to reiterate that determination here this afternoon.