Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I refute all those political assertions because they have no foundation in fact. I remind the Deputy once again that we had a deficit last year of €499 million so I do not know where I am supposed to be storing up this money. Thankfully, due to the extraordinary continued growth in our economy and the employment we are creating, the deficit was €1.75 billion less than was expected, which I would have thought was to be welcomed. I noted when that information emerged that the Opposition found it depressing news.

See this speech in context