Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party Ministers of State in his Department and in the Government were not informed about more recent announcements on further cutbacks because of his inability to deliver the budget he had promised. When he comes under pressure, he hits out at the Croke Park agreement and sick pay. In his speech last night, he said it was ironic that Fianna Fáil was tabling the motion. He ignored any accountability at his Department. The Minister denied that he cleared the cuts or that he hid behind the HSE and allowed it to make the announcement.

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