Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I will tell the Deputy why. As Minister for Finance, I am entitled to introduce a budget and the Finance Bill, which, if enacted by the Oireachtas, becomes law. It is called a democratic mandate. The Deputy may have a different opinion on certain issues. When he has a sufficient mandate he can come over to the Government benches and I will challenge him from the Opposition side. It is called democracy. I do not need a doctorate or a Harvard professor of law to tell me what I should do. I derive my mandate from the people and I take my advice wherever I can find it. I will make my judgments accordingly and I will defend those judgments. We should be able to do so and continue our public discourse in a way that does not challenge anyone's integrity. Otherwise, one can become tired of this stereotypical behaviour which does nothing for public discourse.

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