Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Bannon should keep it up; he is not making an impact on me.

It is important to point out the work of the committee was done and nothing was left undone as a result of the presence or absence of the Minister for the few days he was on a family holiday. Political capital has been made at this stage. Many prominent Opposition politicians were not around in that period but I have not checked where they were holidaying.

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