Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

For the purposes of clarity - I know this is not in order on the Order of Business - the Department of Social and Family Affairs published full details on budget day of how the social welfare changes will affect all different groups. A further paper on the welfare changes will be published in the coming days. The Department of Finance usually publishes an assessment of the budget on how the income tax package will affect people on different income levels. As there were no income tax changes in this budget no such statement was published. While the budget was difficult for many people, it was fair.

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