With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 8 together.
As will be seen from the statement issued by the Government in regard to the agreement in question, if the new income taxation system is to be brought in, the VAT system will be operated without a refund until an amount equal to the amount foregone by the non-operation of the levy is recovered by the Exchequer. The Government have not referred to a system of taxation as single, long term and equitable.
It is not possible to give the exact duration of the period from 1 May 1979 during which the VAT system would operate without a refund, but it is likely that it would last until early 1980.
The new system of income taxation would operate as from 6 April 1980 and the yield would accrue in course of the income tax year 1980-81.