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

The fact that we are scrapping the 50% loss eligible to be carried forward as a minimum does have an impact on the return to the State. I know the Minister has focused on the shareholding, the price of shares and the profitability of these banks, and the attractiveness of the value of our shares increasing, but if these banks return to profitability - both are expected to do so in 2014 - then tax will be foregone as a result of this measure. If this measure was in place in 2014, 2015 and 2016, there is a likelihood that this State would receive more tax from those banks as they enter into a phase of profitability. Is that not a correct assumption to make?