Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept a suggestion that the performance of my Department is underwhelming. I want to put on the record of the House my acknowledgement of the long hours spent by many senior officers of my Department in tackling the problems. Deputy Burton has been given many opportunities to brief herself by my officials on various aspects of our economic problems. As she will be aware, I am not permitted to know the content of any such discussions. Certainly, there have been many official briefings of the Opposition parties on matters which arose.

See this speech in context