Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I will not delay too long. Senator Phelan misrepresented my position with regard to this matter, which unfortunately occurs all the time. As Minister for Finance, I do not have the luxury of speculating week-in, week-out on television programmes outside of a budgetary context. This was afforded to those in the Opposition with regard to what they wanted to do about stamp duty in the context of the general election.