Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

How could the Minister get it so wrong? How could estimates for tax returns have been so far off target in recent years? In 2004, there was a projected rise of €1.6 billion in extra tax take but the actual tax take turned out to be €4 billion. The Minister was off target by 140%. The expected increase in 2005 was €1.8 billion and, as the Minister just mentioned, the actual figure will be approximately €3.7 billion. How did the Minister end up being 100% off target?

See this speech in context