Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)

We need to listen to each other. Everybody in this House has a mandate. Each of us has been elected by ordinary working people who want us to work together to fix this economy. I am giving a commitment to the Members of this House that I will take the time to listen to their contributions. I will heed what they say and consider the suggestions they make. No one Deputy in this Chamber has all the solutions. We need to take the time to stop heckling and talking over one another. Instead, we should really listen. The voters of Pearse Street, Ringsend and other parts of Dublin South-East have asked me to listen to others in this Chamber and to do my level best in an honest manner. That is what I will try to do. Everybody has a viewpoint.

I listened to the contributions of the Deputies who have been elected to represent Sinn Féin. There were some good points in what they said. We need to listen to one another. We should get over the idea that members of other parties are wrong in every respect and need to be criticised and heckled. If we are to fix this economy, we have to learn to work together. I listened to Deputy Ó Caoláin when he said this is the first time Sinn Féin has been in a position to table a Private Members' motion. I welcome that, just as I welcome the constructive nature of much of what has been said this evening. It has been a positive debate. It shows us a way of going forward.

I welcome the Minister of State's confirmation that this measure will be reviewed. All of us must work and act together to get the best deal possible for the Irish people. Too often, Members assume that Members on the other side of the Chamber are automatically wrong, or that the manner in which the Government is proceeding is wrong. We made it clear in the programme for Government that there will be a review. This evening, the Minister of State asked for submissions in that regard. Like many Deputies in this Chamber who have definite views and beliefs, I intend to make such a submission. I am one of those who said that a review of this charge was badly needed. It has to be changed. It is not good enough for anybody here to massage the figures or argue about whether a change would bring in an extra €400 million, or cost an extra €1 billion. We all know how this is affecting the economy and ordinary working people. We have done the biggest of consultation exercises over the past several weeks. We have to listen to the people who realise there is going to be pain but who need to see light at the end of the tunnel. We share a responsibility to work together on building a progressive taxation system. The motion Sinn Féin proposed is welcome but it is premature. Less than two weeks ago we voted on a strategy which included a review of the charge. I will work within my party in Government to ensure the views of all Members are taken into consideration because we owe that to the citizens of Ireland, including the people in Tralee to whom Deputy Ferris referred and the people in Ringsend who cannot afford to send their children to college. This suffering is not of our making, however.

I will support the amendment proposed by the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, because it represents a constructive engagement. I look forward to the establishment of the committee system because, by working together as a House, we can develop strategies that will fix this economy. We should not be jumping in so quickly to make political points. Deputy Ó Caoláin stated that he would prefer to see change in terms of winning the motion than to score points but the way forward is to work with the review to make the submissions and sit down with the Government to work out solid proposals that will allow this country to recover.

We saw what the banks did with their speculative activities. Their gamble did not pay off but this country must repay the debts. We will be required to impose taxes. There is going to be hardship. When I knocked on doors, people asked me to assure them there would be light at the end of the tunnel. The next two years will be hard but the programme for Government shows hope for the future and the review of the universal social charge will result in positive changes. On one road I visited during the election campaign, every second household was affected by the forced emigration of friends or family members. They had to emigrate because there is no work. These are our best people and significant sums of money were invested in their education. Among their numbers were skilled trades people and university graduates.

This Government has worked extremely hard. Within four weeks of the election we are debating real policies in this Chamber. Every previous Dáil was in adjournment four weeks after its election. Urgency is needed but we must also consider measured proposals. The motion proposed by Sinn Féin is a mature one and the contribution by that party's Members have been useful. I look forward to working with all Members on resolving the problems for the future. This charge has to be reformed. When I met voters at the doors, I stated it would be reviewed because we did not have instant answers. I will be proactive in that review and I look forward to making major changes as a result.

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