Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Labour Party opposed the bank guarantee scheme. One can only imagine the precarious banking system of which we would be speaking if we did not have that scheme. The plan for economic renewal will be on the basis of social partnership. We will work with the social partners, those who employ and represent workers in this country and with the voluntary pillar and will devise our own approach in that regard over a credible timeframe. That is what I believe in. The Fine Gael Party does not believe in it and the Labour Party does believe in it. I do know if the former Democratic Left Party believed in it, but the Labour Party believes in it.

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