Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:12 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the personnel who represent the Department of the Taoiseach on the tax strategy group preparing proposals for the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19836/00]
Other Questions - Tax Strategy Group.
The personnel who represent the Department of the Taoiseach on the tax strategy group are Dr. Martin Mansergh, Mr. Gerry Hickey and Mr. Eoin O'Leary.
Does the Minister interact at all with the tax strategy group?
The Deputy made comments about the tax strategy group reports and the effect they have on my thinking in the past—
So, too, did the Minister.
—certainly during the course of the debate on the Finance Bill. The tax strategy group is a valuable advisory group for the Government. It examines a number of issues of tax policy, etc. and does a great deal of invaluable work. That is what it was set up to do. If the Deputy wishes I can read the terms of reference of the tax strategy group, which were drawn up by the previous Administration. The group is advisory, it deliberates and the contents of its deliberations are published on the departmental website after the budget and the Finance Bill, so the information is there for people to assess it.
I will not detain the House but when we were in Government the tax strategy group discussed various proposals from different Departments, including the Minister's Department, and then the budget emerged at least partly from it. It now appears to be a matter of academic discussion and the budget happens in an entirely parallel way and is decided by the Minister in the few days before the budget.
It is wrong for the Deputy to say that the budget is decided by me a few days before the budget.
Some time in the 1970s.
Is it true to say they are watching the Minister more closely this year than they did last year?
One will have to wait.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.