Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

This is my fourth budget in that period. In every measure that has been introduced on behalf of the Government, we have sought to stabilise our public finances. In doing so, we have sought to protect those most in need. Analysis using the ESRI model has shown that the measures I have introduced on behalf of the Government's have been progressive and have distributed the burden of adjustment fairly.

It is clear to us all what went wrong in our economy.

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