There were sharp exchanges in the Dáil between Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore about the date of the general election when Mr Lenihan claimed Mr Gilmore was displaying “considerable constitutional ignorance”.
Mr Gilmore had asked the Minister for Finance “to indicate to the House the Government's intention with regard to the dissolution of the Dáil and the holding of the general election”.
Mr Lenihan said he was happy to deal with the issue because “once again Deputy Gilmore has displayed considerable constitutional ignorance”.
He added that he hoped Mr Gilmore “will get in training for the high offices to which he aspires”.
The Minister said “the Government does not dissolve the Dáil and has no function in regard to its dissolution. The President dissolves the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach and that is a matter that lies between the President and the Taoiseach.”
Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said that a cost benefit analysis should be carried out on every tax relief or incentive offered.
These reliefs should be for job stimulation and not to benefit those on high incomes to avoid paying tax.
Ms Burton said some of those on very high incomes were paying only about 19 per cent in tax through the use of relief schemes. This meant that ordinary people had a heavier tax burden than wealthier individuals.
Mr Lenihan ruled out the inclusion of cost benefit analysis and said the Department of Finance already did this.
The Dáil passed the committee stage of the controversial Finance Bill, which gives effect to the provisions of the budget and is currently debate the report stage, the second but last stage of the Bill, which is expected to be voted on at 5 pm.