Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Leas-Chathaoirleach will have to step in. I am only joking and I am using up my own time in so doing.

I thank the Ministers and their teams for coming to the meeting. As a new TD, I ask lots of questions, both out of my own interest and on behalf of the public that elected me.

Both of the Ministers were in the previous Government. They have both helped to guide the country. Deputy Donohoe in particular guided the country through very tough times in the past. The economy was in a much different position and the country was in a different shape when he first became a TD. Much tougher discussions were had. We are at a different inflection point in our economic history, not to mind all the other things going on around us. With that come different types of question about, for example, public spending and why the surplus would reduce. I may ask questions about those matters, notwithstanding the excellent governance of the Ministers. My questions are to provide insight for myself on the direction we are taking, especially in this committee ahead of the budget.

Turning to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on the sustainability of the tax base, the term "windfall tax" is being used. "Windfall" denotes something that is short term and might only come. If one were to get it twice in life, one would be doing well. I think Deputy Cian O'Callaghan alluded to the question of how to stop building it into the future, take the windfall and put it aside for a rainy day. The Minister was very conscious in the previous Government of the rainy day fund. How do we stop ourselves from building it into the future in case the crunch comes?