Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I suppose Question Time gives the Deputy a chance to do what he is doing now. However, the fact is that the health service costs €15 billion. If the Deputy thinks the Minister should carry out her functions without independent advice, that is his opinion, but it is of no relevance to the pay cuts of more than €1 billion in the public service. Those employees are subject to the same cuts in remuneration as people in the public service. They are not being treated any differently.

See this speech in context