Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It appears that we will just be getting the information from Revenue Commissioners as to when they are going to implement this. They are saying that they will push ahead with this on 1 January 2020. The substantive issue is the impact it will have on 600,000 workers. What assessment, if any, has the Minister carried out with regard to these changes? I have said many times at the committee that I have huge regard for the Revenue Commissioners an organisation. The Revenue Commissioners operate and implement the law as we in this House decide it should be operated and implemented. The question for the Minister and for the Government is whether they believe that the changes around the flat-rate expenses are warranted. Does the Government understand that this will have a significant effect on low-income workers and particularly in those employments, such as, for example, Tara Mines, that would receive allowances. This is a huge issue and I am sure they have contacted the Minister as they have contacted Sinn Féin and our local representatives there. The measure will also affect people working in the hospitality and education sectors, along with nurses, mechanics and plumbers. It will affect a huge number of individuals. There is a lack of awareness out there in terms of what is happening. The substantive issue I am interested in hearing about is not about whether Revenue will postpone it for a month or two. Revenue is clear on that unless the Minister has some other information that Revenue is looking not to push ahead.

The Taoiseach, when he stood where the Minister is now, in response to my party leader stated that the Government would ensure that this was fair. The Taoiseach made comments to suggest that, before any changes were to take place, the Government would ensure that any changes would be fair and looked on by it. Is that the intention or will the Minister be taking a hands-off approach to this in allowing the Revenue Commissioners to do what they want to do? It is up to us to decide on this or to amend the Finance Bill to ensure that while the regime may need to be tweaked in some areas the protections for low-income workers are there with regard to the flat-rate expenses.

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