Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move recommendation No. 14:

In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:“86. The Minister for Finance shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report assessing the impact of Finance Act 2017on Ireland’s progressive implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the target under Goal 10 that by 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.”.

We may discuss this recommendation again and I may bring it back on Report Stage because I believe a discussion is needed on Ireland's implementation of the sustainable development goals. Ireland will prepare a report next year on the sustainable development goals and I believe it is important that the measures in the Finance Act and the measures in the budgetary processes are properly considered in light of the sustainable development goals and whether they bring us closer to or further away from the implementation of those goals. With regard to the Finance Bill I specifically have in mind goal No. 10, which says that states should progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average. Perhaps the Minister will afford us the opportunity on Report Stage to discuss it, and he may have a response now. This is a test we need to start applying to the tax and distributive measures in our budget.