Ben Briscoe
Question:73 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Finance if the business expansion scheme review group has considered the extension of the scheme to the recycling industry. [7879/96]
Written Answers. - Recycling Industry Scheme Extension.
The BES review group carried out a thorough anlaysis of the scheme, including its scope and whether the existing range of qualifying activities should be extended. The tax strategy group and the main interested parties were also consulted in the review.
The decisions of the Government arising from this detailed review were announced in my recent budget speech. The Deputy will be aware that I also made a number of comments in my budget speech on the whole issue of environmental tax policy of which recycling would be a part. I stated my belief that the tax system can play a key role in environmental policy. Accordingly, my Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments and agencies, is examining the strategic impact of taxation on environmental policy with a view to bringing forward specific tax measures in the 1997 budget.