Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree with the contentions of either Deputy Ó Caoláin or Deputy Gilmore in terms of what they had to say. Deputy Ó Caoláin is the first, I understand, to question the good faith of the partners, including the Government, on the detailed and long negotiations that took place. No one who came out of those talks — people with whom we have been dealing on an ongoing basis — made the assertions he has just made. That indicates not only the inaccuracy of those assertions, but the fact that they have no foundation in fact.

Everyone strove to see if an agreement was possible. The engagement was sincere and real efforts were made. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it was not possible to find agreement on those aspects that were required in terms of the savings, but there was agreement that those sorts of savings were required, that public service pay, remuneration and pension would form an important part of the identification of those savings.

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