Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The electorate hung on to the irresponsible manner in which the then Opposition of Labour and Fine Gael had promised that, in Government, it would reverse many of the unfortunate measures proposed in that budget and Finance Bill. It is necessary to remind our citizens of those comments, and I will take a few of them. Deputy Michael Ring stated "This budget is anti-elderly, anti-family and anti-children and it will have an effect on the most vulnerable in society." Deputy Roisín Shortall stated "child benefit should be available to the most vulnerable, the people who need it most, particularly those with large families."

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