Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My goodness, I was taken aback by that announcement. I am trying to let it sink in.

I share the concerns expressed by Senator Sean Barrett in regard to the National Pensions Reserve Fund which, as the Senator observed, was intended to cater for a rainy day. It has been raining for quite a while now and we are not out of the woods yet. Everything he said in that regard is true. The fund must not be plundered or raided for any individual's pet project without proper assessment and evaluation. To allow that would simply be codding ourselves and adding to our budgetary woes by further increasing the national debt. However, more power to Senator Mary White and her positivity.