Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is wearing thin and it will wear thinner as the weeks pass. When the country gave the Government its mandate, it was given the authority to address the issues that will confront it. Much of that mandate was based on its canvass, its communication and the message it gave the electorate. The message that rang loud and clear then rings loud and clear now. "Child benefit is a red line issue" - the Government can prove it next week. "Social welfare rates will be maintained" - this was repeated consistently by members of the Government. To be fair to the Minister, despite many questions from me and others, she never gave that commitment. Her colleagues did, however, and her leader did, as late as three weeks ago on the plinth.

That is what the electorate will remember. For sure, they will remember 14 years. For sure, we have taken a message from the last election. Our party has many issues to address and we will continue to address them in the best manner we can. We will reorganise our organisation. We will deal with the people in trying to formulate alternative policy. We will come forward with an alternative budget setting out the ways and means by which we, as a party, feel we can achieve the same figures the Government is looking to achieve in regard to the public finances. We will put that there. It will not be plucked out of the sky. However, I can say for definite it will not involve cutting child benefit rates, although it did last year.

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