Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Doherty questions my sincerity and integrity. I can assure him of both on all matters concerning this Finance Bill. He is well aware of the confidence and supply agreement. When I make a commitment, I stick to it. I am not going to enter into an agreement and then seek to inflict defeats on the Government on the Finance Bill. I am not going to do that. Equally, I say to the Government and to the Minister for Finance that we want the cost-benefit analysis. Last year we insisted that there would be a report, which was subsequently carried out by Indecon. Ongoing monitoring by the Department is not sufficient. I deliberately took the wording from the Indecon report. The comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is a clear conclusion and recommendation from Indecon. I do not accept the argument that the scheme has not been in operation for a sufficient amount of time to carry out such a report. The scheme was originally flagged in July of last year. It was then included and formalised in the budget day announcement and enacted in the Finance Bill last year. In effect the market is made up of buyers and builders. Everyone has been aware of it since July of last year. What I am looking for is that over the course of 2018 the Minister will implement what Indecon, as independent consultants, have recommended on a scheme that is costing tens of millions of euro. I do not think that is too much to ask. I put it straight to the Minister. We want the cost-benefit analysis.

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