Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The bulk of that debt has accumulated as a result of the gap between Government receipts and expenditure, current and capital. The total overall cost of the bank rescue package in relation to Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society will be, as Deputy Bruton knows, spread over a long period and will be offset by gains which the State has made in respect of payments on foot of the guarantee, payments from Bank of Ireland, prospective payments from Allied Irish Bank and other results of the State's investments in the banking sector. The core crucial central issue which must be addressed, which the Labour Party has singularly abstained from addressing in the past two years, is the gap that exists between the current and capital expenditures by State and the receipts and revenues available to it. That is the central issue that must be addressed by any occupant of this Office.

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