Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I was hoping we could broaden the debate. Anybody can come in here and advocate for projects. I can give the Deputies another list of projects they could add to that. It is great, and they can read about it in the local papers if they want to. We are all advocates for everything. I had hoped that we might move to a different kind of debate - a debate about economic sustainability and making real choices. There are people who are concerned about cuts on the current expenditure side. I have heard some loud voices over the last number of weeks arguing for deeper cuts in current expenditure - in social welfare, health and education - to lessen the cuts that must be made on the capital side. However, all the voices I have heard here are saying they want everything. People want to spend on every single project and cut back on none. Nobody has stood up and said that one particular project is the one we should-----

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