Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Are French newspapers correct in saying that finance Ministers have effectively approved the eurozone budget and that the European Council will now do so? In other words, have we embarked on this road? They seem very positive about the meeting, writing that President Macron has secured a victory and that we are going forward on this basis.

Regarding the size of the fund, I note that we are net contributors to the overall EU budget. That looks likely to be even more the case as the years go by. We may be significantly affected by Brexit. The Minister and his colleagues have spoken about infrastructural projects, stabilisation of economies and so on. Will this fund be of much value to Ireland? We will not be drawing down from it. In fact, it will principally go to some of the weaker and newer economies that may join the European Union, such as North Macedonia.

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