Deputy McCreevy has set out to be a reforming Minister for Finance and one of the hallmarks of the reforms has been the consistent and progressive reduction in income tax. Over the years, the burden of taxation has impacted on our competitiveness. I am referring to the 1980s when inflation was in double figures and there had to be double figures in terms of social welfare and so on. The whole thing became a vicious circle. The Minister has taken the view that one should begin by progressing towards lower taxation, and many other positive things will follow.