Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Burton appealed for support for her amendment on the basis of bipartisanship and then introduced a rather partisan version of modern Irish economic history, which is understandable given the proximity of the poll. I was pleased to hear Deputy Micheál Martin make the point this morning, which was widely reported, that our expenditure base was too high and our revenue base was too low. I am sure Deputy Burton recalls I made that point the centrepiece of my Budget Statement in October 2008. We in Fianna Fáil have all been practising in sackcloth and ashes for some time.

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