Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said, the estimated total spend on social welfare this year is €21.3 billion. Given that the anticipated total tax take will be between €32 billion and €35 billion, based on Exchequer returns thus far, the Deputy will accept that this level of commitment by the Government to social welfare provision is unparalleled and unprecedented in the history of the State. I accept that the Deputy, as an Opposition Member, would like categorical assurances on a range of issues. As a member of the Government, it would be unfair of me to decide, in a situation where the Minister for Finance is only beginning an Estimates and budgetary process, that expenditure of that order should not be considered in any way.

Regarding the Deputy's interpretation of my replies, I remind him that there was no cut in social welfare rates last year. The reason we avoided such cuts was in order to ensure that we protected people to the greatest extent possible.

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