Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy Cowen I knew had a genuine feeling for the voiceless, for those with no trade union, for those with nobody to represent them except their associations and public representatives.

The Taoiseach spoke about the social welfare system going forward, the €22 billion in social welfare expenditure, the pre-budget outlook and the Government's understanding that a contribution had to be made. The cost of excluding carers, the disabled and the blind is €108 million.

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