Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Again, there are two answers to that question. The first concerns the fiscal allocation one gives to each Department and what one wishes to do with it. There will be a political debate about that matter because every party will have its own policy platform to put to the people and the make-up of the next Government in a few months time will determine how much money will be deployed in each area of public expenditure or given by way of a tax rebate. There will be a robust debate about that matter. From my perspective - I believe I debated this issue on national television with Deputy Sean Fleming - one issue will be the size of the State and whether people wish to shrink its size and its activities or to expand it. This will be an important debate to have in the context of the next general election.

See this speech in context