Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Those rules exist because of the risk in other jurisdictions where current and capital expenditure were conflated; they looked like the same thing and assets were built that ended up not delivering what citizens wanted and not delivering a return. In terms of how we deal with the matter, I want to explore the options in that regard, including the role of the European Investment Bank, EIB and what we can do to increase our rate of capital expenditure at a quicker pace. I am considering the role of public, private partnerships, PPPs, but I will be careful with them. I know, as a former Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, the role that PPPs played in delivering road projects all over the country, for example. However, just because the liability is contingent does not mean that the liability is not there in the future. That is a matter with which we need to take care.