Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It cannot be used to invest in capital projects or a social housing programme, but it may be used to bail out banks. That is the reality. I am not having a go at the Minister of State, but let us be clear about what was in the briefing notes given to the Minister, which we obtained under a freedom of information request. According to the note in question, the fund cannot be used for Brexit or capital projects under the national development plan even though the latter would be the sensible thing to do in an economic downturn, given that it would create employment. Nor can it be used to deal with the greatest crisis facing the State, that being, the housing crisis. However, it may be used, if the Oireachtas decides so, to bail out banks. Is that factual or not?