Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I do not believe in naming people outside this House if it can be avoided.

On the property tax, I understand as well as Deputy O'Donnell that we have a very high level of home ownership. Many people, including one of my children, are in negative equity and face all the pressures that creates. The last thing they want to hear about is a property tax. If one was in any doubt about that, one need only listen to a few contributions on Joe Duffy's radio show yesterday. On the other hand, a whole raft of experts - economic experts and economic institutions - suggest, as with third level fees, that the rational economic thing to do is to have a property tax.

While, naturally, the Government tends to be reserved on its budgetary proposals ahead of the Budget Statement, nothing I say should be taken as detracting from that reserve. The reaction, particularly from Deputy O'Donnell's party, has been immediately to tap into a populist vein rather than to subscribe to any of the so-called economic wisdom out there.

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