Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Coffey made his comments after a shift in corporation tax yield. As the Deputy will know well, between 2012 and 2014 corporation tax receipts came in at about €4 billion to €4.5 billion. Between 2015 and 2016 they moved between €6.8 billion and €7.3 billion. Across that two year period, there was a structural change in the level of corporation tax receipts. Mr. Coffey formed his views in the aftermath of that shift in tax yield.

To be fair, Deputy Michael McGrath and his party abstained on this unlike other parties which favour broadening the base in abstract but oppose every measure relating to how we do so. That is why we made a change in the VAT rate in the hospitality service sector. It is why we made the changes in stamp duty on commercial property. I am aware of this risk but as I have told the Deputy on other occasions, I have yet to face any Deputy in this House who argues that I should spend less. It is my job to manage that balance. I am aware of the risk and will figure out if there is a way by which we can address the need for the review that the Deputy has made this morning.

See this speech in context