Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There are no arrangements with Deputy Joe Behan. Deputy Kenny should not make a mountain out of a molehill. There are political agreements and on that basis they are confidential. They are obviously based on the programme for Government. Part of that programme sets out that all programmes and policies are predicated on trying to maintain order in our public finances in order that they are sustainable and that we may be able to finance them on an ongoing basis.

All these Deputies are elected Members of this House. They are entitled, if they wish, to offer support to the Government of the day and are entitled also, if they wish, to come to their own arrangements with that Government. Obviously, the commitments entered into are predicated in the same way as the commitments the Government itself enters into, namely, on the basis of available resources and priorities we can establish and work on. Clearly not every area of policy can be covered for them, no more than for the Government.

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