Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a genuine challenge to decide on the scope of what constitutes an appropriate recovery fund. We have heard what various external commentators have had to say, and the truth is that we are continuing to work on it. It will need to be a significant fund to meet the challenges that will arise across the economy in 2021. No final decision has been made at this point but we have given confirmation of what we would regard as the stimulus, for example, in the whole capital expenditure area. We have made policy decisions already about employment and income supports through to the spring of 2021, and further decisions will be made on budget day. I have heard what the Deputy has had to say. The issue raised is one we can work on in the future. This is an extraordinary year and we need to have the flexibility, as a Government, to make decisions right up to budget day and to set them out next Tuesday, which I look forward to doing.