Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It comes down to whether one believes the scheme makes a difference. If one believes ending it would not have an adverse impact on Ireland's FDI offering, of course, one would abolish it. If one felt it would make no difference to the 156,000 jobs in the companies that have SARP employees, one would take the view expressed by Deputy Paul Murphy. The companies in question paid €2.5 billion in corporation tax and almost €2 billion in PAYE contributions. The scheme was independently assessed by Indecon which produced a very detailed report which made a recommendation following a cost benefit analysis. One can criticise that analysis or question the assumptions made, but the conclusion was that the benefit of the scheme exceeded the cost. IDA Ireland which Deputies here are very quick to praise when it suits them is strongly of the view that a scheme such as SARP has a role to play. It is part of our offering in attracting foreign direct investment. The landscape is very competitive, as we all appreciate. The question is whether one believes all of the jobs we have attracted through our FDI offering and all of the investment we continue to secure would continue to be attracted and secured and that the scheme plays no role whatsoever in that regard. I do not take that view and believe the scheme does play a role. It might not sit comfortably with any of us that it is part of our FDI offering, but the reality is that it is. Such a scheme is also part of the offering of many of the countries with which we are competing for foreign direct investment. That is the fact of the matter. It is for those reasons that Fianna Fáil supports the retention of the SARP.