Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We will deal with that. We are setting out to work within the budget spending limits we have set ourselves and ensure that with the extra costs there will now be as a result of rising unemployment — greater than predicted — we will find savings in other areas to deal with it. That is what we and any responsible Government must do. If the Opposition were in Government, it would have to do it as well. That is fair enough.

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