Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

What does the Minister mean by his reference to later in the month with regard to the publication of the four-year plan? We were given to understand previously by him and by his officials that it would be published in the middle of the month, which is next week. Since then the Donegal by-election has been announced. The Labour Party put serious proposals to Commissioner Rehn yesterday for investment in infrastructure such as public transport and roads, in school building and development. This is what the Finns did when their banking system crashed. We also made proposals about innovation in small and medium enterprises. Is there any hope that the Government has any belief in the future of the country and that it intends to invest anything in it? Is there any investment strategy to offset fiscal austerity?

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