Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——because he has suggested there is no interest in job creation. One cannot decouple job creation or economic recovery from getting the public finances into order. While everyone agrees with this point in principle, as one goes about doing it everyone disagrees with every cut and comes into the Chamber to make a representation as to why it should not take place. The point is that we are spending €50 for every €30 we take in, which is not sustainable. If we want to create jobs and have a competitive economy, one must deal with this issue. One cannot walk away from this issue and the point I made earlier was that the deficit there is €18.5 billion. As for the previous discussion on the banking situation, which is also serious, if €30 billion is what ultimately is to be paid, that would mean a payment of €1.5 billion.

See this speech in context