Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeframe within which the commission on taxation and social welfare will examine and publish recommendations on the interaction of the taxation and welfare systems as promised by the programme for Government. [6002/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced, and which recognises the need for social solidarity. As was stressed in the preamble to our Programme for Government, in order to address the very substantial problems that we face, it is essential that new ways, new approaches and new thinking will form the constant backdrop to the work of the Government. Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that we face.

It is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these problems. For this reason the Government will seek to benefit from the expertise of a Commission on Tax and Social Welfare that will consider a number of issues arising out of the operation of the tax and social welfare systems. The Government will consider the scope of the commission's work and the practical arrangements around its operation. An announcement will be made on these as soon as possible.