Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With respect, a full divulging of the composition of the pay bill and all the necessary data was being exchanged for weeks in advance. It is all very well giving advice as to what to do a week or a month before but we had come to the substance of the issue and it was not possible to find an agreement. This is unfortunate and I regret it as much as anyone else because I had been working for it. I hope to return to working on it as soon as circumstances allow.

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