Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The protection of the taxpayer and our borrowing capacity arises in this case. The crucial issue in any bond issue is the rate of interest which accrues, a matter of considerable sensitivity having regard to our general borrowing requirements. The advantages of accessing additional funding for infrastructure investment are clear. Infrastructure investment helps to create jobs. Although the employment impact of construction projects varies, research conducted in this area suggests that a range of between eight and 12 direct jobs are created for every €1 million invested in infrastructure. The directing of additional private sector investment towards infrastructure will boost our public capital stock.

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