Vol. 407 No. 2
14 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline his views on the recent recommendation of NESC that all tax expenditures be re-examined annually as an integrated part of the general public expenditure decision-making framework.
I take it that the Deputy has in mind the NESC view, published in their report "Strategy for the Nineties" in October 1990, that tax expenditures might be integrated into the main public expenditure decision-making framework.
I concur with the NESC that tax expenditures should be viewed in a similar light to equivalent Government spending, in so far as the essence of both is a budgetary outlay directed at a particular economic or social objective. It is also my position that, in reviewing any fiscal measure from the standpoint of Exchequer cost and effectiveness, due account must be taken of other relevant dimensions of public policy.
It does not necessarily follow, of course, that the only way of achieving the result sought by the NESC is to assimilate the review of tax expenditures into the existing process of decision-making on public expenditure. I am satisfied that an integrated approach to the policies applying in any particular field is equally achievable within the conventional framework.
Tax allowances and reliefs are, as the Deputy will be aware, kept under review by my Department, in Conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, as part of the ongoing development of tax policy. Wider policy objectives and other measures in operation are, of course, taken into account in the formulation of the tax measures announced in the annual budget. This is the mechanism through which the integration of taxation with direct expenditure policies takes place under the existing arrangements. It also ensures that the cost of tax expenditures is considered in the totality of Exchequer resources.
I would just like to——
I am calling the spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, Deputy Noonan.
(Limerick East): I thank the Minister for his reply. Has the Minister readily available to him in his Department, and will it be made available to us, a list of every tax concession and allowance and the amount of tax revenue foregone to the Exchequer?
It is available in the annual report of the Revenue Commissioners which I am sure is in the Library.
Question No. 15.
The Minister made a sneaky remark earlier when I offered to ask a relevant question, that I should have been here earlier. The question to which the Minister referred was a priority question and the Minister knew that full well.
The Deputy should put down his questions correctly and they will be answered correctly. I will answer the Deputy's questions any time. I will never run away from a question.
The Minister should not pass sneaky remarks. That was a priority question to which the Minister referred. I put down two questions and they were not answered.
Minister, please answer the question.
