Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In response to the Deputy's question in regard to my priorities, I said during the campaign that we would try to respect the tax bands, which is the most important issue; that we would then seek to assist those on the standard rate following which we would look at the higher rate. That is what I said at the time; there is no secret about it. This would be regarded by many as a sensible prioritisation in respect of those commitments.

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