Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

The Government, in this Bill, has not changed its policy with regard to annual payments into the NPRF. In broad principle I do not think it is a good idea to suspend payments. If we suspend them, when will we ever re-establish them? There is a pensions problem down the line; we have seen that with regard to public sector pensions. I do not think we should consider the virtual suspension or scrapping of the NPRF for short- to medium-term considerations. There is much to be said for maintaining continuity and staying on course even in turbulent waters.