Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As a matter of record, the priority question that I submitted to the Minister was in fact about the national development plan but guess what? His Department refused it, and it was posted to the Taoiseach. Perhaps the Minister will check this. As a consequence, I wondered which element of the national development plan I could ask this Minister about. He accepted the question I thought would be acceptable but he refused a question on the national development plan. I have a letter from the Ceann Comhairle, which I can send to the Minister's office if he likes. I know he probably got the same letter, but he may not have seen it himself. This is like a little debating society. However, the fact is that there are horrendous stories from around the world about the downsides of PPPs. The upsides are that they can provide more capital room and be a source of capital at a time of need, as was the case in this country.

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