Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank both groups for coming in. Dr. Healy's presentation proposes to take €500 million of the €3.1 billion from the promissory note. He proposes that €2.6 billion would come from the tax side. There is commonality between both groups regarding where the measures would come out of the budget. Will Dr. Healy give me the headline figures as to where that €2.6 billion would come from? He talks about investment in growth of €7 billion in terms of jobs, and we would all welcome that. Will Dr. Healy define what he means by "off the balance sheet" and indicate where that would come from over a three year period and where he would see that being directed? He refers to 84,000 jobs it would generate.

Dr. O'Connor and Dr. McDonnell of TASC referred to an adjustment of €2.7 billion, which is very much in line with Social Justice Ireland's figure. TASC's presentation makes a number of observations and, again, I would like the headlines. TASC sees the €2.7 billion coming entirely from tax. Will the witnesses give the headlines as to where those figures come from? TASC compares us with Europe and reports the largest difference in terms of cost of employment. Will the witnesses comment on our marginal tax rates here, which are 52% and 56% respectively for PAYE and self-employed workers, and how that feeds in? When examining jobs and impact, there are two factors: the employee's take-home pay and the cost to the employer. For many SMEs, employers' PRSI is an additional cost. Will the TASC representatives comment on that? I am coming at this from the theme of jobs. We are all working towards the same aims, perhaps in different ways, but I seek more detail.