Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I should like to share time with Deputy Arthur Morgan, with the permission of the House.

I, too, on behalf of the Labour Party, welcome this legislation. As with any consolidation Bill, it is for the purposes of simplifying procedures and that is to be welcomed. It will potentially reduce the compliance burden on small and family businesses and family farms, and this is to be welcomed.

I noted the Minister of State's remarks on the January 1982 budget. My late father played no small part in that particular decision as regards VAT on children's shoes, so that is a decision which has worked its way into the annals of our family, and we are proud of it. There is not much to be said, apart from acknowledging it as being a fine body of work. The Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, instigated by Deputy Ruairí Quinn, had a similar type of effect. However, the 1997 Act has been amended in every Finance Bill since, and arguably has led to an unwieldy tax system. One hopes that this legislation will remain as codified and in that sense, retain its purity.

There is not much more to be said. We have some amendments in respect of certain parts of the Bill, but nothing substantive. We shall deal with those on Committee Stage. We congratulate the Minister, officials of the Department and everyone who had a part in drafting the legislation. It was no easy task and they are to be commended.

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