Mr. Tom O'Brien:

I thank the Deputy for the queries she raised insofar as broadening the tax base is concerned. I will just perhaps set the context of the commission’s report and its findings. Early on in its report it refers to a statistic where a broadening of the income tax base is required. It cites the fact that 25% of workers pay 80% to 85% of taxes in this country at the moment. It is a highly progressive tax system. Its analysis concluded that 35% of all workers pay zero tax. Interestingly, from our point of view and a general point of view, the commission itself was lacking in ideas as to how to bring that 35% into the tax net. I am not aware of any other country, certainly in a developed society, that has that number of working people who do not pay any tax. From a broadening of the tax base point of view, I would have that would have been a very-----