Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The country has money aside. Under the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, there is €20 billion of directed and undirected funds available to the Minister for Finance. My question is directly about the rainy day fund.

The Minister for Finance has indicated that the forthcoming budget will involve the State borrowing to run a deficit of 0.1% of GDP. That is what he told the House last week. This will amount to between €250 million and €300 million. What is the economic logic of borrowing €250 million or €300 million to set it aside in a rainy day fund?

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