Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

There is a commitment in line with obligations to the troika in respect of non-strategic State assets. Deputy O'Dea is aware of why we are in that position. The key issue is that, following the appropriate legislative changes, resources will be channelled from the NPRF to productive investment. We are talking about productive investment in the Irish economy. I realise there may not be a specific target of a number of jobs. Although one of the parties in government set out a specific target as part of its manifesto, there is a programme for Government and a clear convergence in terms of what both parties are trying to achieve. We must be mindful of targets and ensure we have an efficient organisation in NewERA to manage infrastructure and investment in partnership with the NPRF, using the strategic infrastructure fund, which will be the forerunner to the strategic infrastructure bank.

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