Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

Does the Minister accept that before the review examines any individual reliefs, the central question must be asked as to why property based tax reliefs exist in respect of a sector of the economy that is already responsible — before one breaks down the effects of the individual reliefs — for 12% of gross national product? I put it to him that his lack of clarity regarding whether some schemes will continue is causing a corresponding lack of development in certain areas. I cite here the example of Cork city where there has been no development in the docklands areas because of an expectation among developers that either tax reliefs will be continued or that a special tax designation will be made. As a result, there is an onus on the Minister to put this issue beyond doubt once and for all.

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