Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. McDowell and Mr. Murphy. I have a few brief questions. I thank Mr. McDowell for the interesting overview. What level of investment does Mr. McDowell consider the Government should be pursuing? We have been concerned at meetings with different stakeholders that we have been barely meeting depreciation levels. There may be a debate later today on the Rugby World Cup due to take place in 2023. Sometimes such events have been used, certainly in transport and other areas, to roll out additional infrastructure. In terms of the level of State investment, given that we have been barely meeting depreciation levels, which is a major regressive dead hand on our economy, does Mr. McDowell consider that the plan for State investment out to 2021 is sufficient?

We have again felt the impact of the operation of the fiscal rules in terms of the constraint on capital and current spending. When a project is brought forward, be it the Cork-Limerick motorway or the Dublin metro, what is the application of the rules in terms of providing matching funds with respect how we might operate in that regard?