Seanad debates
Tuesday, 18 February 2003
Finance and Related Matters: Statements.
The central question facing us does not relate to the creation of wealth, but to its distribution. The Minister for Finance controls expenditure and when there are surpluses it proves that not enough is being spent in the public sector. We should not rule out the idea of borrowing for worthwhile projects. One has to query the mentality in the Department of Finance which plans, correctly, for the distant future with a national pension reserve fund, but allows four and five year olds to be educated in sub-standard schools. A balance must be struck between long-term goals and current realities. Politicians know about the real world. We need a pensions fund, but we also need to put some of our money into proper worthwhile capital projects.
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