Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I will try to help the Deputy. The section allows the fund to accept funds or assets for its benefit from sources other than the Central Fund if so directed by the Minister. Currently, the commission can only accept contributions from the Central Fund, which previously included a surplus of tax receipts that could have been transferred on the 1% basis to the pension fund. The Central Fund might also include the proceeds and the realisation of sale of a State company.

The effect of the section is to allow funds or assets other than funds in the Central Fund to be transferred by the State. I hesitate to give examples because we have no current proposals, but shares in State-owned companies, State-owned lands or——

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