asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the year 1969 the amounts of (a) taxes on income, (b) taxes on expenditure and (c) social security contributions by employers and insured persons, as proportions of gross national product at factor cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Taxes on Income and Expenditure.
1.
The information requested by the Deputy is shown in the following table:
TAXES on income, taxes on expenditure and social security contributions in 1969-70 as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost.
|
% |
|
|
(a) Taxes on income |
8.5 |
|
(b) Taxes on expenditure |
22.6 |
|
(c) Social security contributions |
2.7 |
|
Paid by employers |
1.5 |
|
Paid by insured persons |
1.2 |
Would the Parliamentary Secretary be good enough to explain to us the meaning of the phrase "as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost"? There is no such thing.
The Deputy is, of course, an expert in these matters. I assume there is such a thing as "gross national product at factor cost". I do not come in here with something——
There is no such thing. Gross national product includes taxation and it is not, therefore, a factor in cost. If the Parliamentary Secretary is answering, or pretending to answer, a question on the basis that this has some meaning, I certainly do not agree with him.
That is a matter for the Deputy.
I did not hear that remark.
It is a matter for the Deputy if he does not agree with me. I really cannot do anything about it.
I do not believe the answer has any meaning.
That is the point.
I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the reply; it is most interesting.
Deputy Desmond might give his colleague a lesson in economics. Apparently he does not understand what I am speaking about and Deputy Desmond does. The Deputy who asked the question knows what it means. He will tell Deputy O'Donovan what it means afterwards.
Does he, I wonder?