Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

The letter continues:

According to CSO figures on second properties, the levy of €200 should bring in €80 million rather than €40 million as estimated in the budget summary, which frees up an additional €40 million.

The total of these suggestions equals €194 million, which exceeds the cost of the cutbacks. And if any specific suggestion is unpalatable to any specific Minister, there are more suggestions that can be made in relation to the general taxation, the PRSI, an increased income levy etc.

To once again take a brief break from the letter to the Minister, constituents to whom I spoke on the medical card issue have indicated they are more than willing to take up some of the flak in hard economic times but they do not want the young or the elderly to be affected.

The letter concludes:

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, Minister. I hope you will have the courage and the common sense to work with the Minister for Finance and other colleagues to redress these damaging cutbacks by obtaining the funds from other sources. It is not a capitulation to take a position but change it in the light of new information regarding the impact of such a position. I would say, Minister, it takes more courage to reverse the cutbacks than it does to defend them. You have already shown yourself well able to tackle various interest groups. However our children are a particularly special interest group who cannot speak up for themselves.

See this speech in context