Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. It is a sign that we see support from across the House. We are not speaking to Senator Fitzpatrick's amendment, but when we will come to it I will support the thrust of it. I have also tabled an amendment on public-public partnerships in the spirit of recognising that we are in a situation where there are other ways in which this can be done.

We have heard about using different tools. I took on board many of the points that were made in the previous debate. Among the key tools are this type of co-operative and these types of bodies. Local authorities now have a capacity for direct build and, perhaps, building with public partnerships. There is real capacity there now. Fiscally it is possible and it is important for us to remember we are in a different situation now with regard to the EU fiscal rules and accessibility to 0% loans and financing. We have often heard that financing is why we have to go to the private market only, but the fact is a lot of other ways to access financing are now available to the State under the changes in the EU rules. The type of off-balance sheet focus we have often heard about is no longer a constraint in terms of dynamically moving forward. I strongly support the amendment. I have a somewhat similar amendment, although perhaps mine has a wider frame. The nuances in the amendments tabled by Senators Warfield and Fitzpatrick are perhaps even more useful than my amendment.