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

In response to Deputy Doherty, as I made clear on budget day, the Government has committed to an evaluation of the idea of a 30% rate and given an indication as to the point next year by which we aim to have that work done.

We are doing that because it is a way of delivering the indexation of our tax code. However, it is not in line with what we have done over the past few budgets. Therefore, I made clear on budget day that while I believe it has considerable merit and would give us the opportunity to concentrate available resources on middle-income workers, it needs further work. I referred on budget day to evaluating how it would fit in with the rest of our tax code. That is something the Government is committed to doing. I believe it is a good idea. As I said on budget day, the Government will evaluate it and make a decision next year.

On Deputy Boyd Barrett’s remarks, I am aware that we are going to have this debate as we go through the corporate tax element of the Finance Bill. Fundamentally, the Deputy and I differ in that he sees every relief as an opportunity to avoid paying tax whereas I believe all the reliefs contained in our tax code are legitimate ways of recognising either investment within our country or how large global companies are structured in a way that provides employment in our country. We should always be open to reviewing reliefs and assessing where we stand. We have done a lot of that work through the OECD. Unlike the Deputy, I believe a relief that recognises the trading structure of big global companies and facilitates them in providing employment in Ireland is appropriate. This is what other developed economies and all our competitors do. I respectfully say to the Deputy again that I fundamentally believe the kinds of changes he is proposing would have a big impact on our economy. I do not believe they would lead to an increase in tax revenue. In fact, I believe they would lead to the opposite over time.

Deputy Mattie McGrath is right that I did not meet him. He has not had a good word to say about anything I have done or any budget I have produced for years. In meeting him, what chance would I have of his group ever agreeing to vote for a budget? That is the truth. If I discussed it with the Deputy-----