Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

In my remaining minute of speaking time, I draw attention to two aspects of the Finance Bill, the first being the environmental aspects of the Minister's proposals. He is seeking plaudits for his proposal on biodiesel. The original proposal was made by his predecessor in his budget speech of 2004 but was not implemented until mid-2005. The Minister is now proposing in this Bill to issue a ministerial order at some time in the future. As my party leader stated in the House recently, the Government is addicted to economic policy fuelled by oil which is becoming a diminishing resource. The Minister has the most vested interest of all because of the amount of taxation he collects at the highest level, not income or corporation tax but value-added tax.

As referred to on today's Order of Business, I protest at the intention to extend tax reliefs to the health service in general but to private hospitals and private mental hospitals in particular. This proposal will be assiduously examined and opposed by this side of the House on Committee Stage.

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