Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I wish the Deputy would listen. I find that I learn more when I listen than when I speak. I am sure that also applies to Deputy Shortall.

The challenges we face are immense. The Government is up to dealing with those challenges and is not going to run away from the difficult decisions that must be made in respect of both the four-year plan and the budget to be introduced on 7 December. What we will be obliged to do will not be easy. It will be painful and it will not be popular.

See this speech in context