Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

I do not want to be misinterpreted. I am saying that tax reliefs are valuable in certain circumstances. They are valuable if, as a direct consequence, they provide employment. As we have seen, however, tax reliefs can be damaging if they are not for the benefit of the economy or the people, but only a select few. Unfortunately, this country has been consumed by tax reliefs that have benefitted builders but, as we know, that over-heated the property market and in turn crippled the country with debt. The Minister should agree to this amendment which does not cost the Exchequer anything. It is about providing the best information to all Deputies so that we can legislate to best effect.

Over the next four weeks we will be discussing many issues, one of which is political reform. In the spirit of those discussions and as a starting point before the election campaign kicks off in earnest, we could have a real change of direction by publishing information that should be made available in any case by the Department of Finance.

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