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

The Minister believed it was a brilliant budget; that is why. My point is that we do not want fictional Johns and Marys but data on the real Johns and Marys. We can do this in respect of income when we put all the Johns and Marys together. Statistics can be obtained on a certain proportion without giving away their identities. We can do the same for corporations.

Research and development tax credits are important. Carrying forward losses is important also but we need to figure out whether there is abuse. It is not about shutting down the measures as this makes the country unattractive, but one must ascertain whether they are being abused. Perhaps they are not but, one way or another, we need to move the debate forward and, if necessary, close off the loophole. This debate will continue in an ill-informed way until the Government presents figures and a report that will help us have a proper, informed discussion on the way forward.