Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is also not true to say that where there are problems, no progress whatsoever is being made. That simplistic debate is a turn-off for the electorate which is more sophisticated than that and deserves a higher level of debate.

Reflecting on what the Government is doing in the areas of health, education, social welfare and the capital programme, expenditure in these areas accounts for 80% of the budget. Where is the waste in education if three quarters of expenditure is on pay and pensions and we have an additional 10,000 teachers?

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