Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy considers the budget in its totality he will see that the tax reform and reduction we deliver in respect of personal taxation is by and large offset by revenue-raising measures elsewhere. I struggle to see how the Deputy can describe this as a tax-cutting budget overall, given that its total revenue-raising measures are in excess of €700 million. He is correct to say that I have tried to reduce marginal taxation. I have outlined why. This is because of our high rate of marginal taxation. I can provide the reports that have been furnished to me to show how that tax code differs from those of other countries with which we compare ourselves. I believe that we need to make steady progress on this but the total revenue-raising measures within this budget are in excess of the personal tax reduction package, as the Deputy knows. He can certainly disagree with my assessment of the need to cut personal taxation but in its totality, this budget raises revenue.