  We study the interplay of quadrupole and octupole degrees of freedom in the
structure of the isotope $^{144}$Ba. A symmetry conserving configuration mixing
method (SCCM) based on a Gogny energy density functional (EDF) has been used.
The method includes particle number, parity and angular momentum restoration as
well as axial quadrupole and octupole shape mixing within the generator
coordinate method. Predictions both for excitation energies and electromagnetic
transition probabilities are in good agreement with the most recent
experimental data.
