Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The problem about quoting statistics and facts is that we all have facts to support our argument. However, there is objective fact: there must be some objective truth in all of this. In truth, I am reading from a UCC economist who has analysed the figures. He indicated that measuring as a percentage of GDP is problematic for Ireland because of the operation of multinational companies.

Deputy Wallace is aware that GNP is often a much more accurate assessment of Ireland. If one takes a hybrid of the two, Ireland ranks third in expenditure on the social areas. Only Denmark and Finland spend more of their income on those critical areas. We need to know the facts before we draw conclusions. This is taxpayers' money and we need to know what we are spending and what we are getting for it. We need to have a system based on the truth before we all, if one likes, arm ourselves with economic facts to bolster a theory we have.

To return to the Deputy's question, I will set out my view and that of the Labour Party on the division of tax and spend when the election campaign starts next year. In terms of this year, we have an agreement with our partners in government. In view of the very significant increase in taxes over the crisis period, including universal charge, all trade unions are campaigning very actively on it, as they consider it a punitive tax, in particular for low and medium income earners and they say we need to rebalance that this year. We will probably have a different view, as the Deputy might envisage, beyond this year.

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