Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If one was to rely on the newspapers, I would not be here at all.

According to last Sunday's newspaper, I should be dead long ago. The Deputy should not assume that what is on the front of a newspaper is a policy position. The Deputy was in government. He knows that quite well. I am sure he was misquoted on several occasions as well. The point is, if the Deputy wants a debate on child care, he should put it down to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My job in the budget is setting the expenditure ceiling, managing the tax affairs, keeping within the fiscal rules and so on. I have indicated on no occasion that there are going to be measures along the lines the Deputy suggests for child care or otherwise. He will have to wait for budget day to see if there are any specifics.

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