Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Much of that has dried up, necessitating that we cut some of the spending that was dependent on it and substitute base-broadening sources of revenue that are less fair-weather dependent.

When nearly everyone to a greater or lesser degree was doing better than previously — in many cases, a lot better — there was less general concern that a few were making astronomical gains. A harsh spotlight has now fallen on inflated salaries and pensions in a number of sectors, as well as on many of the wealthiest in our society, who simply opt out of tax residence here altogether and choose for themselves what they support as good causes. Worldwide, amongst OECD countries, there is less and less tolerance for the bank secrecy that allows evasion and for tax havens which do not comply with international codes of practice. Ireland is a good citizen in this respect and a sharp distinction must be drawn between tax competition and tax havens. Such issues require collective international action that will not harm the interests of individual countries that have much less clout than, say, the United States.

Moral discourse here has far too often been narrowly focused, even stunted. The public good and the need to live up to ethical standards have too often been ignored or circumvented.

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