Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The most important graph in the intersection between politics and economics at the moment concerns the share income has of national income. What has happened over recent decades explains many of the challenges we now have in politics. Therefore, I am well aware of the analysis the Deputy is referring to, the work that has been done comparing the rate of return on capital with the rate of return on labour, and the debate in regard to taxation on each.

On whether we need redistributive economic policies to deal with that, the answer is that we do. I look at how we can play our part in that, as an open and small economy, and I go back to the answers that I gave to the Deputy earlier. For example, I would have thought the fact our corporation tax collection has increased is a sign that we are able to tax rising profits effectively within the share of global profits that are attributed to Ireland, and that is what we have done over recent years.