Exchequer Returns
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-29
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Ged Nash (LAB), Louth

There is probably never a good time to launch an initiative like this given with what is happening with the US Treasury at the moment. In addition, given the kind of investment that will take place because of the products available such as bonds, exchange-traded funds, ETFs, shares and so on, it may not be the best time ever to do it.
I will be straight with the Minister. I do not see this in the scheme of things as being a priority. It is something that will happen. It has to happen. I understand why people will want the money that they have on deposit in bank accounts that is not earning an awful lot in interest at the moment to work harder for them, but I have said it before and I will say it again, it may very well be a bit of a minority sport. The reality is that people who may be watching in this evening and people who are following Dáil proceedings, this will be the last thing on their mind during a cost-of-living crisis when they are finding it hard to pay the bills.
I have no issue with the principle of it. It very much aligns with the objectives of the European Union in terms of savings and investments, capital markets and so on. I have no issue with that, but there will be tax foregone. It may ultimately prove to be beneficial to our economy and society but time will tell.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-29