Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

It would not wash with the European Union and the IMF. Fianna Fáil left a lot of snares and traps behind after it. The least the Deputy could do is acknowledge this, rather than lecture us about what we might or might not do.

There are various arguments about pensions fund. I will meet representatives of the industry and ask them what their problems are. I will ask them why before Christmas they thought a levy of 0.5% was a great idea and would do no harm to funds and why a levy of 0.6% would cause the sky to fall in. I will start by asking them that question. I will meet their difficulties if I can.

I say to the Opposition once more it will not last on negativity alone.

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