Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

Public expenditure has increased from €18 billion in 1997 to more than €40 billion next year. We have increased wealth by more than half in that time. By prudent management and by reducing the national debt since 1997, there is now an additional €1 billion available for investment in public services, which otherwise would have been required for debt servicing. I did not see that mentioned in the manifestos of any of the Opposition parties.