andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Finance the estimated increase in the cost of living figure likely to follow the imposition of the turnover tax.
36.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Living Increase.
35.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the Central Statistics Office have computed the prospective increase in the cost of living index which will result from the turnover tax; and, if so, whether he will state the extent of the anticipated rise.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
I would refer the Deputies to the reply given by me to a similar question on 7th May, 1963.
What was that reply? This is a simple question. Surely it deserves a simple answer? What is the prospective increase in the cost of living due to the turnover tax?
The Deputy is not supposed to repeat questions.
It is a handy way of getting out of it as far as the Minister is concerned.
No. I will give the Deputy the answer, if he likes.
Does the Minister base the cost of living increase described by him on 7th May on an increase in retail prices of 2½ per cent?
It is no use, if he does.
Excuse me. What is the question?
Is the increase in the cost of living index described by the Minister last May related to an increase of 2½ per cent?
Yes. What I said in May was that if prices are increased generally by 2½ per cent, then the general increase in the cost of living will be somewhat less than 2½ per cent.
In view of the indications that retail prices will be increased by more than 2½ per cent, would the Minister care to revise his estimate of the increase in the cost of living index figure?
I will have to see them first.
The evidence is in the shops now.
Is the Minister suggesting that a matter of serious importance to the consumer public is to be answered by reference back to a reply given last May? Is the Minister aware of the increase in the cost of living that has taken place since last May?
That is a separate matter.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that goods in the shops at present have gone up in price by 2½ per cent and more in many instances, before the application of the turnover tax at all, or is the Minister also in the same cuckoo land as his Taoiseach, who has only just returned from the United States?
I am not surprised to learn, by statistics from the Deputy.
The Minister will learn it from the country. It is to be hoped that the statistics will be as accurate as your insurance company's.
Deputies enjoy these personal references, I notice.