David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I am asking the Minister whether he agrees that investment is what is most needed by the domestic economy in this country. We have seen in the past that the policy of taking money out of the economy by cancelling capital projects and taking money from the pockets of low-paid workers clearly does not work. If there is €5.3 billion in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, it should be invested in this State and in people to get plumbers, architects, builders, plasterers and bricklayers back to work. This is not just coming from my party. As I said, last night in Waterford - I should not mention Waterford in case I might upset the Minister again - I attended the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regional launch of its pre-budget proposals. It also calls for a stimulus and investment package, as do many economists.

I accept the Government must pick up the pieces of what was left by the previous Government but what we need most is investment. Even at the end of the lifetime of this Government and even if all its policies are realised, and I do not believe they will be, the Minister for Finance has stated that there will still be up to 370,000 people out of work. That is clearly unacceptable to my party, to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and to many other people.