Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept the continuing rhetoric from the Opposition feeding into the negativity industry in this country about this economy. We had a gross national product last year of €160 billion and we have 1.8 million people at work. We had major investment from Intel last Friday which will secure one of the most successful plants in the world for another 20 years. This plant has already contributed much to the local economy and the country over the previous 20 years. We have continuing efforts to increase exports and the budgetary policy we have implemented has stabilised the economy. Had we listened to Sinn Féin's economic policy, we would be bankrupt long ago. Sinn Féin talks about making the adjustment of €15 billion by increasing taxes. It would make 80% of the adjustment through taxes -----

See this speech in context