Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that I cannot anticipate outcomes of discussions that are ongoing at Cabinet other than to say that we are doing all we can to ensure that we seek to address the issues we have set out in the programme. All our programme commitments are on the basis of maintaining financial stability - that must be the overriding priority. As the Deputy will be aware, I am not in a position, nor should anyone be in a position, during the course of Cabinet discussions to anticipate the outcome of all these areas. The Deputy will be aware that they are all being looked at to see in what way we can deal with the adjustments that must be considered not only for 2011 but for beyond then. We are doing all we can to address these issues in that context.

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