Micheál Martin: “But clearly the two fundamental pillars of previous budgets, CAP and cohesion funding, are still very much on the mind…”

I was involved in these issues in the previous government and agreement was hammered out at that stage - an agreement was arrived at, and we want to do well by honouring that agreement on all sides.

I've made my position clear in terms of where I think there can be derogations, and there doesn't need to be a picket.

The rate of growth is declining. But to use words like ‘brutal’ is completely over the top, if you don't mind me saying so, and a gross exaggeration.

We will be growing expenditure this year. There's no cuts here.