Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

A number of points arise and there is no point in my going back over the stamp duty issues. On the Deputy's point that we are accruing far more than expected from stamp duty, I was pointing out where it comes from. It is not simply derived from residential property but from a range of sources.

The resources that accrue from stamp duty are used. Every year, we invest approximately €1 billion more in health care. We have invested €500 million in the capital programme for first and second level schools and the welfare package for this year amounted to €1 billion.

See this speech in context