Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Regarding Mr. McCarthy's committee, he identified €5.4 billion in areas he considered could be modified, eliminated, cutback or whatever out of a total spend - he only dealt with the current programme - of €57 billion. This is an indication that not everything that is being done is something that needs to be changed. Some 90% of what has been looked at throughout all of the programmes were not included for recommendation in the McCarthy report, which puts some perspective on the promulgation of the idea that everything is unnecessary and can be simply washed away, in fairness to the people who work in the service.

Regarding the question, it is important that we have a communications unit that is in a position to provide accurate, up-to-date information from a series of requests, including from Members of this House and elsewhere. The ability to respond effectively and accurately is a particular responsibility of Government and is not one about which the Opposition must care too often.

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