Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 7, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "Report

8. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, conduct and publish a report outlining where compliance with EU fiscal criteria has precluded public strategic investment or required public services or infrastructure to be delivered "off balance sheet" and the additional costs associated with such short term expenditure versus long term investment.".

This amendment asks the Minister to publish a report outlining where compliance with EU fiscal criteria has precluded public strategic investment or required public services or infrastructure to be delivered off balance sheet and the additional costs associated with such short-term expenditure versus long-term investment. As my colleague, Senator Higgins, has highlighted, the EU fiscal rules have been used as an excuse not to invest in public services or deliver services off balance sheet. We know with the suspension of EU fiscal rules that this is no longer an excuse and we need a proper examination of how those rules have impacted our public expenditure.