Farmers’ Income Tax Report
L’Estrange asked whether a newspaper report that all farmers would have to pay income tax was correct. Barrett said he had not seen it; members disputed whether the Finance Minister had seen it, and the Chair then called the next question.
May we take it that the report which appeared in the newspapers over the weekend that all farmers from now on will have to pay income tax is correct?
Comment on this
The Taoiseach assured us that the Minister of State would be able to answer all questions put to him which the Minister for Finance would have been able to answer. He is now telling us us that he cannot because he is not a member of the Government. This validates our criticism at the beginning that the Minister for Finance should be here.
Comment on this
If the Minister for Finance was here he could have answered. If it is before the Government he must have seen it.
