John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter again. As I said in my opening statement, the State already provides a mechanism to its citizens to support the Exchequer through the State savings scheme, and the Government can use that funding to invest in infrastructural projects which we all agree are much needed in our country. The remarks from the Minister for Finance point to the fact that any savings that might be used by the State in an alternative mechanism to derive a higher return for depositors ultimately would go on the Government debt and would result in the State having to repay those sums. There is a feeling that it would not add anything more than what is already done through the State savings mechanism. Nonetheless, I appreciate the comments the Senator made, which I will take back to the Minister for Finance.