Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To answer the Deputy's second question first, I am probably constrained in providing an opinion as it would only be my own personal opinion. I do not want to do a disservice to the process that will arrive at the ultimate decision. Suffice it to say that the Minister, Deputy Harris, has said on the record a number of times that this is the elephant in the room. The issue has been knocking around for a long time. We all know there are no magic money trees in the real world, or at least most of us do. These are the decisions that will have to be taken. The Cassells report lays out a number of options, as the Deputy will know. Different people will have different takes on it. I will not give the Deputy my person opinion but, suffice it to say that the Minister has said, on a number of occasions, that this is an issue on which this Department will ultimately be judged.