Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2015 public investment made up 1.8% of GDP. The €27 billion package over six years the Minister mentioned represents 1.9% of GDP. So between this year and 2021, the annual average increase in public investment will be less than €250 million, compared with the Government's intention to provide €750 million in tax cuts. Rather than a 50:50 split I believe the Minister would have preferred to lean more towards investment in the services rather than tax cuts. As the Minister knows, indirect taxation in Ireland is pretty draconian and obviously impacts most on those with least money. Would the Minister not admit that he would rather see a better balance in favour of service investment?

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