Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my opening statement, I would like to see this given a level of priority similar to those other matters highlighted. It is the principle I would love to see embraced. That is why the document has no party logo, it was not written in a political context and when I published it in April, I sent it to all Members of the House, all committees and all Departments.

I would love to see general acceptance that this is a route we need to go. It is not that it trumps the need for the abolition of or a reduction in USC or the movement of bands, rather that it exists in parallel and subject to space. Prioritising the taxation system support, in the same way as the welfare system, to the cost of raising children is a basic principle that was embraced from 1799, the beginning of taxation in this country, right up to 1986. We would serve the nation well if we re-embraced that principle.