Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The arrangement will remain in place for the foreseeable future. We must find ways which do not assume that extra staff will be provided, regardless of any other consideration. Government must reprioritise and everyone must work within the new realities. The Government has an expenditure position vis-À-vis an income position which is not sustainable in the long term and must be managed and reduced, as agreed, over the next three to four years. Within those constraints, we must find new ways of providing basic public services. We cannot provide the same level of service by going on as things stand and based on existing agreements.

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