Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Rural Independent Group is calling for a report to be produced after the Act has been implemented so we can examine it and produce a report on how we would lessen the impact on lower paid workers and try to get more balance for higher paid workers. We have a figure of more than €150,000 in this regard. I do not think there is anything damaging to our European competitors or any of the other aspects pointed out by the Minister in having a report and an examination of how we go about this. There must be some mechanism so we can have room for manoeuvre.

It is the same with regard to the taxation of companies earning profits in excess of €1.5 million. All we ask for is that after three months of the Finance Bill being enacted, we have a report laid before us so we can discuss and debate it. Every year, motions are tabled to get rid of the USC, which we were promised would be temporary. This was also the case with the insurance levy all those years ago for PMPA. We know what happens. We are looking to unearth the minutiae to determine why we cannot do so. It is not simply a case of saying that we cannot do so and then going away home until next year when it will not happen either. We want to have a bit of wriggle room for people who are savagely impacted by the cost of living and have carbon taxes on top of everything else they had already this year.

We met the ESB yesterday. It is one of the energy companies and a company for which I have great respect. It told us that despite the profits it has made, it is not allowed by the regulator, European law or Irish law to do anything to help the people in desperate need. We need to be able to have explanations and in-depth analysis of the reasons we cannot change the system. It is not a case that we just take it or leave it. There must be some flexibility or room for manoeuvre. If there is not, we need the report to explain why not. Surely it is the job of the Department and the officials to explain why it has to be the same.

We tabled a motion to get rid of the USC and it did not happen. We want a report laid before the House within three months of the legislation being enacted, which will probably be in four months' time. If it is delayed, that is fine but we want a report and we want to discuss and debate it and try to get a better understanding. We want it explained to the people why they have to pay this tax when they were told it would be temporary but it is not. We want to look after those most hard hit who are the lower paid. We describe as well paid those who earn more than €150,000. They should be expected to pay more. We are not trying to hunt away foreign direct investment. We are not being reckless. We are asking for a report and an examination and nothing else to see whether we can make some progress.