John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to return briefly to the notion of exceptional revenues regarding the tax receipts this year. The Revenue Commissioners believe that these revenues, these receipts, were not exceptional and that changes made in particular to the Irish corporation tax system a few years ago and improvement in the economic activity of the country would mean that these receipts would come in regardless. We have seen evidence from the Revenue Commissioners in this regard, and they have spoken elsewhere about the matter. I also refer to the fact that since the budget, the Exchequer return figures from last week, with which the witnesses are no doubt familiar, show that income tax receipts are almost €1 billion ahead of schedule, VAT is €500 million ahead of schedule and corporation tax is €500 million ahead of schedule. Does this not put paid to the witnesses' argument that this was an exceptional once-off increase in revenues? Rather, as the year has progressed, income tax in particular has performed much more strongly. It is not a once-off windfall tax. Is it not, therefore, the case that the criticism of the budget is not well founded at this juncture?