Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It would be fine if, in the present, we could perhaps have some leadership from the Opposition. In terms of our excess expenditure over income at the end of October, the reduction in the Exchequer requirement is €14.4 billion. It was €22.7 billion for the same period last year. Through its policies therefore the Government is in the process of closing the gap that needs to be closed between what we are spending and what revenues are coming in.

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