Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

If we take into account the National Pension Reserve Fund, we reduced that debt ratio to 12%. We established that fund and this shows forward planning for the economy as it will go a long way towards meeting our pension liabilities in 2030. In 2002 and 2003, Fine Gael called for a suspension of payments into the NTPF, which is another ill-thought out measure that has been proved to be incorrect. The SSIA scheme is another example, introduced by the former Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, of whom Deputy Bruton speaks so highly.

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