Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. The report comes up with good recommendations, although I am not supportive of all of them. The reported has rightly flagged that there are issues in respect of state aid rules applying in this case. For example, the report has made a recommendation in respect of the tax tonnage regime to allow us to compete with Malta. Currently, the Malta regime is under investigation for state aid. Therefore, we need to ensure that anything we bring forward is robust enough. Some of the proposals, for example, those relating to more capital investment in our ports, would be most welcome, as would tax relief for fishermen. There is a need for a comprehensive response.

I am also keen to hear the overall estimate of the cost of the recommendations as per section 8.8 of the report. There is a reference to a cost of between €10 million and €15 million. The Department of Finance has estimated that the seafarer allowance alone would cost €11 million. That is in excess of the total cost of the 30 measures proposed, albeit at the lower end, as per the Indecon report. I am keen to hear the view of the Department of Finance. It seems one of the measures will cost €11 million. However, Indecon has suggested that the entire cost of the proposals could be as little as €10 million. There are obviously some issues with report itself.