Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I dispute that as would the Minister's own Finance Bill. We have dealt with such sections within the Bill. Provisions on the taxation of third level fees deal not only with taxation this year but consider the policy of the Government to increase fees incrementally over the next number of years. The Minister has allowed for that in the Bill even though that policy has not been implemented. I raise this matter because we are in dicey territory. There was a reason the limits were set and the Minister appears to agree with them as he has indicated an intention to bring them back to the same level in three years time. He said it was unfair in terms of the transition which I can understand. I do not dispute that people got a shock. My point is about provision in legislation for a sunset clause. We all know that such clauses are included in legislation time and time again. It is not just a statement. If I was out there next year and was unaware of the conversation that took place here or on Committee Stage and started to look at the situation with PRSAs, I would see what the limits are. I would not see that the limits will only be the limits for 2013, 2014 and 2015. That is what is missing. If a Minister for Finance makes the adjustment in 2015 or 2016 to increase this, one will have the exact same situation regarding the ombudsman that no transitional arrangements were put in. There was a statement from the Minister but no transitional arrangements are made. It is an area of concern. I highlight it again.

It is something that will have to be revisited whether in the Bill before us or in a future Finance Bill. While the amendment proposes to leave the limits as they are, we should at least provide to bring them back to the original level. It would be up to a future Government to decide to reduce them once again, if it so wished. If the intention is to increase them to that point, that should be stated in the Bill through a sunset clause or a specific reference.

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