Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has a different comfort zone to deal with but I will deal with my job as I see it. With regard to the disability sector, we will of course seek to protect to the greatest extent possible people in those positions. We have done it consistently over the years and we will continue to work on it. We have put unprecedented resources in and we still have problems with that sector. It is about the organisation of services as well as resources, and reforms will have to continue in that area. We will continue to do our very best.

In the meantime, the reality is €3 billion less is coming in from tax revenues.

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