Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We should nonetheless have a rainy day fund that is debated properly in the House and about which there is time to have a proper discussion. That is vital. The way this debate has been rushed through is a shambles and it makes a mockery of the Business Committee.

Deputy McNamara is in the Chamber now and he will want to comment on this as well. The way we are doing this is wrong. I have to question whether there is a need for a rainy day fund as we stand. Surely, this is a rainy day in terms of what we are seeing in the country with people being put under pressure across the board. There is no doubt that the budget measures that were introduced earlier will not alleviate the pressure for an awful lot of people. We could use this money to make things better for them now rather than saying we have to wait and let people survive until next year and then make it useful to them.

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