Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has committed to extra spending of approximately €550 million. However, does the apparent slow-down in revenue across a wide stretch of the tax base not mean that the Government's end-of-year figures will be tight if it wants to meet its deficit target? The base for budget 2017 may be significantly changed as a result of the hoped for settlements in the Garda and teacher disputes, the beginning of the plan to replace the Lansdowne Road agreement and pay restoration.

We are depending heavily on corporation tax, which was the subject of much discussion in the budget committee. Is the sustainability of this situation not a concern, given the question of tax inversions and the fact that the Government is beginning to implement the base erosion and profit shifting, BEPS, programme?

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