Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Mr. Dillon said that to put in place a quality public transport network, housing and public services need to compete in a post-Brexit world. I welcome his call for a ramping up of public investment. How does he propose that we pay for it, given that IBEC has championed cutting taxes as opposed to ensuring that we have a revenue base strong enough to make the investments he quite rightly calls for?

Mr. Dillon also mentioned agrifood, a sector we know is particularly at risk. Precarious work is another big problem in those sectors as I know from my previous role as a trade union official. Unfortunately, low-hour and zero-hour contracts are rife in the agrifood sector. How does Mr. Dillon propose to tackle that issue? I have serious concerns about the downside of that for our economy.

Mr. McGrane called for implementation of the Cassells report. He did not say which option he prefers. Does he have a preference for how third-level education should be funded? We know from international practice that the loan option excludes people from working-class or low socioeconomic backgrounds. I hope he will reassure me he is not calling for that option.