10 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax inspectors engaged in self-assessed returns from the self-employed or companies and the numbers actually engaged in the auditing of returns; his views on whether these are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the continuing protests over the operation of the carer's allowance scheme, and the fact that only a small proportion of carers in the community are benefiting from the scheme; if, in view of the inadequacy of the scheme, he will consider removing the means testing element of the scheme and target the carer's allowance payments by subjecting them to taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
4 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish interest rates are the highest real interest rates in the EC; the steps he intends taking to put fiscal policies in place which will enable the Central Bank to reduce interest rates.