Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I refer the Minister to previous Ministers for Finance and to a former Minister, Richie Ryan. He was a Fine Gael Minister for Finance and he introduced a wealth tax which was abolished afterwards by Fianna Fáil. If that wealth tax was in place now at the rate of 2% as at the time, it would be bringing in €5 billion per year. It is not unrealistic and it is most reasonable to suggest to these people with such large amounts of money that in addition to a wealth tax they should pay a once-off contribution to the State of about 10% of their assets. This would amount to approximately €25 billion. That kind of money and that kind of ongoing wealth tax-----

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