Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

It was a very interesting reply as it is quite clear the Government and the Taoiseach has not given a second thought to the issue of tax exiles since this time last year, when that budget was introduced. This is a Government presiding over a two-tier society, treating one group of people earning more than €1 million per year and who pay no tax to this State with one set of laws and asking carers, the unemployed, the blind, widows and people in poor circumstances, to contribute and pull together. It stipulates that such people should contribute the same as everybody else.

The reality is the people with high wealth and earnings pay no tax to the State. The Taoiseach introduced a measure last year, and even if such people must contribute, it will be two years before it kicks in. There is no mention of it in this year's budget and the Taoiseach cannot tell me why these people are getting two years to make their contribution. In the same two years, people on the lowest levels of income are having their income cut twice with immediate effect.

In the middle of last night, Deputies Healy-Rae, Lowry, Mattie McGrath and Behan, who made all kinds of noises before the budget came in, voted on obscure financial resolutions in voting for the budget. In the next 24 hours they must come here to cut the money paid to blind people, widows, people with disabilities and others in poor circumstances for the second time over this budgetary period.

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