Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I support the sentiment behind the amendment. It is interesting that an amendment must be tabled in this way, asking for a report to be laid before the House, in order to deal with the issue of tax exiles. A practical amendment could be lifted and accepted by the Government. In saying that, I magnify two aspects that are wrong with this House. One must invoke ingenuity in order to get around the rules of the House. If one manages to do so, the Government will not accept the amendment because of a convention in the House. In the time I have been here, the Government has accepted two or three amendments from the Opposition. This is telling. It says it all about how this place operates. It is crazy.

Millionaires and billionaires are avoiding paying tax while those on the new minimum wage are caught to some degree by the universal social charge. People are swanning around, not paying their fair share. The Government ignored suggestions in the Sinn Féin pre-budget submission, which sought a fair taxation system and a new tax band of 48% on those earning in excess of €100,000. This only covered that portion of individuals' income but was ignored by the Government. The other important element of the submission was to introduce a wealth tax. This amounts only to 1% and concerns wealth in excess of €1 million. There was an income-related context so that a pensioner living in a little cottage in Ballsbridge, which could be worth substantially in excess of €1 million-----

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