Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis. Tax flows are strong at €630 million ahead of budget and the monthly forecasts provided by Revenue and the Department of Finance. We need a strong last two months to fulfil the commitments made on the expenditure side, but we expect to be in a position to do that. As to next year's base, approximately €2.5 billion in taxes will be collected in 2017 above what will have been collected this year.

On the question of corporation tax, the ongoing international reforms, which are driven by the OECD, are more likely to enhance the tax take in Ireland than reduce it. This has been the experience in 2015 and 2016.

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