Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 March 2003

Finance Bill 2003 [ Certified Money Bill ] : Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

In response to Senator Higgins, Senator Mansergh made the point very eloquently regarding automatic indexation for which there is no case. Not alone does the tax credit limit the flexibility of Ministers for Finance into the future but an automatic index to anything is not necessarily a good thing. I have seen this in the areas of public expenditure where we have particular schemes. When the partners come to bid with the Minister for Finance, they never think of doing away with the scheme. I am sure the Senator has experienced this when in government. The scheme might have long outlived its usefulness but with a whole plethora of civil servants behind it, no one ever suggests doing away with it. They all must get their 4% every year. If the Government decided on a 4% increase in expenditure overall, everyone thinks all the schemes must get it when what we should be saying is that all of the increase on this occasion must go to one area.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.