Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I had a long speech from the Department on the budget, mainly dealing with the Department of Foreign Affairs covering passports, biometrics and all the money involved in the Estimates etc. It also dealt with decentralisation and overseas development aid. However, having listened to Deputy Broughan who was his party's spokesperson on social welfare when I was Minister in that area, I decided to bin my printed speech and rise to the bait as I always loved to do when we were sparring partners.

I know the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, will refer to overseas development aid later. Under the Government the largest increase ever in overseas development aid has been delivered.

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