Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The figure I gave the House is the correct figure. The €440 million savings we are seeking to provide for the remainder of this year have a full year effect in 2009. The present effect will last for six months during the remaining half of this year and will continue into 2009. I am being very clear with the House. It is not a question of dribs and drabs. I made it clear that on receiving the mid-year returns the Government would make decisions to seek to ensure we work within the expenditure limits we had set ourselves. We agreed to have a nine hour debate in the House, which is the right place for the debate. Rather than having it come out in dribs and drabs, the Ministers will come to the House tomorrow to outline what contribution can be made by individual Departments in respect of the efficiency savings that have been mentioned totalling approximately €240 million, the 3% payroll bill reduction we are seeking by 2009, and the various administrative and other savings that are being contemplated and upon which agreement and decisions have been made. It is a very clear position by Government.

This is just a phase in a process——

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