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

I thank the Deputy. Those are all important issues he raised. Tax policy can play an important role in supporting wider public policy objectives, and when it comes to vacant bedrooms, for example, and the spare capacity that is there, we have the rent-a-room relief scheme and there is already a generous CGT relief for a principal private residence. Nevertheless, again, if the Deputy has any ideas or proposals, we will be more than happy to look at them.

I agree with him about having a system that is as flexible for workers as possible. We have made some important strides through the changes to the State pension system, for example, allowing people to work for longer and postpone drawing down the State pension to make up for any shortfall they may have in PRSI contributions and to get an actuarially varied pension as a result. All those flexibilities are there and our colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have made important moves to enshrine flexibility in work environments generally in the context of retirement ages. Of course, the public service has led the way by allowing people to work up to the age of 70. That said, tax does have a role and I would be very happy to engage with the Deputy.

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