Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is a conflict between the EU-IMF programme commitment on reducing tax credits and tax bands and his programme for Government commitment to maintain existing tax credits and bands; and, if so, if he intends to seek an amendment to the EU-IMF programme to make it consistent with his programme. [14242/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The issue of maintaining tax credits and bands at their current rates will be a matter for Budget 2012. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has initiated a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) to provide the Government with a set of decision options to meet the overall fiscal consolidation objectives and re-align spending with the Programme for Government priorities. The CRE is due to be completed by end September 2011.

When this review is complete, the Government will examine the findings and based on these findings and consultation with the Troika will if appropriate introduce fiscally neutral changes to the detail of the EU /IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland while maintaining the overall commitment to fiscal consolidation.