Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We will emerge with an outcome that seeks to find a balance between the need for cuts in expenditure, the need to raise taxes and the need to revise capital programmes, all of which will happen, for several years hence in a way that protects to the greatest extent possible those whom people would like us to protect. That is not an easy task and, if necessary, based on a detailed consideration of the matter, it might involve more than the 9.5% this year. The important point for the financial markets will be the Government's determination to eliminate the structural deficit over the period concerned.

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