Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister considering any additional revenue-raising measures in the current budget? As he is aware, in People Before Profit we are very prudential in our budgeting so that when we argue for substantially increasing expenditure beyond what the Minister is proposing, as we do, we always propose revenue-raising measures such as wealth taxes, increases in employer PRSI rates and increases in corporate tax and financial transaction taxes. The Government always pooh-poohs our figures as to what we could raise through the introduction of such measures. Recently, Oxfam estimated that a 2% wealth tax on those with over €4 million in assets would raise €4 billion. I am sure the Minister will say that is just not true. I personally think it is. Even if a quarter of that estimated amount could be raised by a wealth tax on the wealthiest people in this country, it would be a lot of money. Given the huge challenges and demands we face, is any consideration being given to the introduction of some additional revenue-raising measures in the form of taxes on those who have not done too badly or have done very well over the last period, including the very wealthy and some areas of big business? For example, we could introduce a windfall tax on the energy companies or the big investment funds in housing and property that have done very well over the last period. Is any consideration being given to the idea that such companies and funds should be asked to cough up a bit of extra tax from the gains that they have made while other people have been suffering, to help fund the big challenges we have and to shield others who are being hammered by the cost-of-living crisis?

I am out of time, so I will throw in one last question. On the issue of public sector pay, our view is that pay, pensions and income should at least keep pace with inflation. Otherwise, we are reducing the spending power of people, which means human suffering for them, and it also potentially has a negative knock-on effect for the rest of the economy. People have less purchasing power, which then hits the economy. We think it is an economic, social and moral imperative to ensure that public sector pay, pensions and income at least keep pace with the rate of inflation so that people are not losing real income or purchasing power. What does the Minister say to that?