Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In terms of the Minister doing what he did with the future Ireland fund, namely, bringing a resolution before the House to say that he, or perhaps she in the case of a future holder of the office, is not putting the money in, the general scheme refers to an evaluation to determine whether "a significant deterioration in the public finances has occurred each year or where that deterioration persists in the case of years subsequent to a deterioration being established". It appears that there are more stringent criteria for the Minister doing that. There has to be a serious deterioration in the public finances. How will that be quantified? What is the legal weight in terms of having regard to the views of the Minister for public expenditure? It requires Cabinet approval anyway. If the witnesses would not mind answering those two questions.