Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

-----that there are instances where taxpayers' money is not used to best effect, of course I have to take responsibility for that. However, it is a situation that is part of the accountability mechanism in this House.

No one can stand up here and say with certainty that the €55,000 million that is spent on current programmes in this country is spent exactly as it is sought to be spent from this House by those to whom it is given. That is the story.

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