Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

First, I wish to disabuse the Deputy of a few notions she put forward as if they had a factual basis. I assure her that in my discussions — I headed the negotiations on behalf of my party regarding the formulation of the programme for Government — I was not aware of the Labour Party's proposals. They certainly did not form part of my discussions since the Labour Party was not prepared to take our calls at any time over the past few weeks. That is a matter for the Labour Party to figure out.

I do not know where the Deputy got the idea that I opposed the establishment of the commission on taxation.

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