Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The real issue for Deputy Gilmore and for us all is that despite comments to the contrary the policies we have been pursuing in the face of this crisis have been necessary to stabilise the economy. Of course it does not meet with popular acclaim, since it involves reductions in expenditure, some increases in taxation but also promoting as much growth as we can in the economy and stopping the contraction in the economy which was unprecedented in 2009. The fact is that there was a view in this House during those two years that those decisions were not necessary when they were necessary. Further decisions must be contemplated not because anyone takes any great pleasure out of considering them-----

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