Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have asked this question before. I hope to get some clarification on this occasion. As Deputy Michael McGrath said, the strategic investment fund is supposed to channel money from the National Pensions Reserve Fund into the productive economy. It cannot be done until the Government introduces legislation to amend the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act. The legislation in question will not be brought before us this year. It was announced in September 2011 that €250 million would be directed to a number of areas. The Government has not yet introduced amending legislation to allow the strategic investment fund to do this. There are real questions to be asked about the Government's commitment to stimulating the economy. Will the Minister clarify why legislation has not yet been introduced to give effect to the strategic investment fund that was announced in September of last year? We are now in November of the following year.

See this speech in context