Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Finance Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed)

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not remember the Minister's exact words yesterday but they were along the lines that he was tired of the Opposition opposing certain types of housing. To be clear, we are talking about affordablity. I was talking about affordable housing all day yesterday. I am sure the Minister will have seen the report in this morning's edition of The Irish Timesthat a major Australian pension fund is investing in these types of vehicles. As a matter of interest, I checked the CSO database this morning. It notes in respect of pension coverage among renters that just 8.6% of renters in the State have a voluntary pension, with a medium value of €24,000. It seems our high rents are subsidising Australian pensioners. We are helping to build a better Australia but creating a worse Ireland. That is a deep concern. As I said yesterday, these amendments are practical and can be taken on board. The committee must be constructive when we discuss Finance Bills. I would like the Minister to reconsider his position on the amendments.

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