Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I am struggling to be heard over the Minister but I will address my remarks through the Chair. If one looks at what purports to be a corrective economic measure, there is nothing in it that will deliver any serious change. This is not a medium-term strategy for the recovery of the economy. Three quarters of the money this year is either for capital or deferred programmes. Next year, one third of the money will again be in capital. The sum total of the Government's efficiency savings, €71 million, represents one eighth of 1% of Exchequer spending. After all the huffing and puffing, the great body of Government produced savings of one eighth of 1% from the massive spending that has been ramped up in recent years.

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