Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position

Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

No, it is very much as the Deputy said. In fact, it is almost part of the targeting. We do not really know what is going to happen to private housing or to commercial real estate. There is a chance that the positive dynamics that Ireland experienced over the past couple of years will be impaired as a result of this crisis for some time. That will create this pool of labour and skills. It is obviously much better that they are used to do something that contributes to the welfare of the country than for those resources to be lying idle.