Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Do the figures not indicate that the party is over? On budget day on 5 December the Minister will face a number of difficult choices, namely, whether to ditch some pre-election promises or to cut spending. According to his statement on the returns, his spending priority centres on productive potential. As this means something must give on the spending side, will it continue to be the health service, in respect of which we hear horror stories on a daily basis? Will the Minister indicate to the House his opinion on what will give on 5 December?

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