John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

While Deputy Mathews spoke quite eloquently about the crisis in Europe, I remind people about the crisis in ordinary Irish households. I am speaking about middle income groups who cannot pay any more. What is it about this that the Government does not understand? It would do well to consult Social Justice Ireland but Ministers did not even give that organisation the courtesy of responding to its pre-budget submission. It could also speak to St. Vincent de Paul, which is dealing with increasing numbers of middle income families in financial crisis. The head of St. Vincent de Paul in Waterford told me that people do not even have €2 to spare at the end of the week.

It is offensive that Fine Gael is continuing Fianna Fáil's budget mantra by claiming the increase equates to €2 per week. Fine Gael Deputies must not be listening to the people who visit their advice centres to explain that they are strapped and do not have any more money. Enough is enough.

I will not rehearse what my colleagues have said about where the money can be found. Households with incomes of more than €750,000 became 5% richer last year. Billionaires got richer. Those who earned more than €150,000 got richer. There were reports in today's newspapers about people who have not bothered to pay their taxes. None of them will be brought to court. We have given ten tax exemptions to people in this country. Millionaires and billionaires have thumbed their noses to successive Governments. Individuals who fail to pay for their television licences or fall into arrears on their rent can be brought to court but somebody else can say to the Exchequer, "Eff off, your are not getting the €200,000 I owe you" and nothing will happen.

I am offended by the absence of Labour Party Members from the Chamber but I am not surprised because they are unable to face up to injustice. Their party has a simple legacy. It was the first to introduce water rates and cut off people's water. In Waterford, thugs came in to cut people's water supplies and they were offensive to women and children until they were physically driven out. Now it is the first party to introduce household charges. At least some Fine Gael Members are present. I might not agree with them but I respect them for fighting their corner. Both Deputies present appear to be at one with us on some of our amendments. They can easily follow the former Labour Party Deputies over here because we will make room for them if they want to vote against the Bill. They will always be welcome.

The Government should stop claiming that the tax will only cost €2 or €5 per week. St. Vincent de Paul dealt with 150,000 cases in Dublin this year. The Government could ask how many of those cases involved middle income groups and working people. In Waterford, Wexford and other areas it is primarily dealing with working people who are letting everything else go to pay their mortgages. That €2 means a lot to those who do not have a penny. I appeal to the Labour Party Deputies who are sitting in their offices around Leinster House to stand up for the working people that James Connolly taught them to defend.

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