Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Whether the figure is 13% or 30%, it puts in context the level of spending in the social welfare system. In retrospect, we should have been much more Calvinist in our approach. That is not in any way to suggest that those increases were not merited. In that context, the Government was then faced with what happened following the economic meltdown.

My colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, commented in the Dáil that the outgoing Government made available to then finance spokespersons all relevant accounts and finances of the State for their inspection. Not only that, Department of Finance officials briefed the spokespersons, including Deputy Burton of the Labour Party, who was then the finance spokesperson.