Quote Originally Posted by Leftfemme22
Quote Originally Posted by Kal-El
Tax incentives are an alternative to the government (i.e. us) funding projects and very useful as the cost to the Exchequer is tax foregone rather than hard cash. I mean, I've used film tax relief to reduce my tax bill in the past. This is an attempt to boost the Irish film industry. I benefit, the film industry benefits and the government/other taxpayers benefit because they don't have to put the cash in.
It's a common sense proposition, although I'm sure the socialist buffoons will disagree!
In the same way that the loopholes in tax law which allowed multi millionaires pay no tax benefits the country as well?

Tax incentives create tax shortfalls. Have you even read the article. The return on this 'investment' is staggering and only benefits those with substantial rental income. It's a tax break covering a tax break and those yields will come from existing taxation. (i.e. You and me)

Have you the slightest f*cking clue what you are talking about?
Leftfemme is being diplomatic,as usual!

Tax incentives are typically aimed at socially desirable objectives,such as construction of affordable housing,student housing and urban rehab projects, and help direct market forces towards those objectives. Usually,the promoters of the incentive reap most of the benefits of the tax incentive by inflating the valuation of the investment. Investors get the tax incentive,but discover eventually that it is largely offset by the overvaluation. As tax deadlines approach,high income taxpayers adopt an "ABR" attitude, anywhere but Revenue, in other words, they will buy any crazy tax shelter to avoid paying taxes.

Tax incentives are also used to fund businesses considered important to the national interest,such as the racehorse industry (that's stretching the national interest),hotels and business start-ups.

When the tax incentives achieve desirable social and economic objectives, the tax foregone by the government is well spent. The government itself would not be efficient at delivering such objectives through direct spending by government departments. Only the most dogmatic leftists are opposed to tax incentives in principle.

That said, there may be a hidden agenda in co-location. Is it a Trojan horse? Private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals may eventually compete for management contracts to manage public hospitals under contracts, if the HSE and the public hospitals do not improve their poor level of efficiency in managing the workforces and delivering services.