Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As I said at the time of last month's budget, the growth in the economy means that as politicians, we are now moving into the fortunate position where we have policy choices once again. We have come through a period when there were no policy choices. I agree that the Deputy has the right to put forward policy choices. It is just that I disagree with them. That is the argument. The Deputy began by asking, as a general question, whether I am aware of the work done by various economists in describing the inequalities of income on a worldwide basis. Of course I am aware of that work. However, the data to which he refers are mostly American. There has been a widening of individual wealth in the United States. That is not mirrored by what has been happening in Ireland. That has not happened at all. I am sure the general debate in this regard emerged at the G20 summit in Turkey in recent weeks. It is an issue all over the world. It is not an issue in our country because we have managed things better. Deputy Boyd Barrett moved from income to wealth as if they were the same thing.