Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It makes sense to provide start-up tax reliefs. I have no problem with this, but I do have an issue with their being carried forward indefinitely. If a company availing of these tax reliefs is not able to utilise them within the period of three years, they can be carried forward indefinitely. Where a company commences operations, it can still avail of start-up relief six or seven years down the road. If a company is able to survive and remain viable for that length of time, it is no longer a start-up company and does not need the crutch of start-up reliefs. I am concerned by the fact that they can be carried forward indefinitely and think the Minister should set a timeframe. There comes a point when a business is no longer a start-up but an established company. Hypothetically, the Bill allows a company which has been established for ten years to draw down or utilise start-up credit reliefs.