Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I'm now going to wrap things up with just one or two questions, and just some clarification, and, after which, I'll invite Deputy Doherty and Deputy Murphy and then any closing remarks you would wish to make yourself, Mr. Ahern, okay? Mr. Ahern, between 1998 and 2000, Mr. Peter Bacon recommended in his reports ... Dr. Bacon ... at the end of a certain property-related tax ... sorry, recommended in his reports an end to certain property-related tax incentives. In December 2001 you and your Finance Minister announced the unwinding of some of the implemented changes. This related, in particular, to the reduction of stamp duty and tax deductibility of interest for investors. Mr. Bacon, when he was before this committee, told us that he was not consulted before these measures were taken and maybe you can discuss with us this afternoon why he wasn't consulted and who was consulted with regard to these measures and these decisions being taken.