Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——faces huge challenges, but one that has some strengths it can market and utilise.

With regard to the recapitalisation of the bank, I made the point yesterday that the negotiations between Government and banks continue and that we will protect the taxpayer in respect of any exposure in which it involves itself. We will do that in the way that we have done it up until now.

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