Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not wish to cross the Ceann Comhairle at any time. An affordable energy strategy is being drawn up. In this winter season, more than €240 million will be made available by the Government under various household packages such as the national fuel allowance and free electricity and gas allowance. The household benefits package in 2009 extended the period by two weeks from 30 to 32 weeks. There have also been increases in welfare payments throughout our period in Government by over 88% at a time when the rate of inflation was 20%. The record of Government for looking after the elderly and making basic provision for them stands in stark contrast to some of the rather measly increases we saw when the Opposition was in government.

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