Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have already mentioned the very close working relationship I have with the Department of the Taoiseach in regard to choices. In response to the Deputy's third question and his somewhat odd attempt to attribute some kind of Herbert Hoover mentality to me, I point out that this year I have increased capital expenditure by €800 million. A further €1.5 billion is planned for next year. That is a 25% increase in capital expenditure for next year, which is as far from Hoover economics as one can possibly get.

As to the Deputy's final question about how we analyse submissions to the Department, there are two different ways in which that is done. It is done on the advice of my officials at the end of August and into September as we frame tax choices. It is also done through the tax strategy group, TSG, papers that we publish, which will come out at the end of the month. In those papers, of which there are a number, we go through nearly all of the different options that different groups raise with us. We cost them and my Department gives some top-line views on them. Those TSG papers frequently end up being the source of budgetary submissions the following year.