Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is the people who support one who believe in one. Is that not what politics is all about? Let us cut out the nonsense. The idea that Opposition Deputies sit peevishly at home while Government announcements are made and that they have nothing to say about them or would not wish to indicate support for them or that they have not appeared at launches, etc. - as they are entitled to do - and informed their supporters that they are in favour of what is happening and that they have exerted pressure on the relevant Minister and his or her Department over a period of years is nonsense.

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