Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

First, I do not accept the Deputy's misrepresentation of the speech I set out last Thursday. Second, I was simply pointing out that the causes of our problem relate both to the international crisis and to the vulnerabilities identified in the Irish economy. Third, despite Opposition contentions to the contrary suggesting that we did nothing about the situation or were indifferent to it, I set out in clear detail and in full factual terms what we did about it.

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