Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept the points made by the Minister of State. A contribution of 17.3% would constitute a significant increase. However, I will await the outcome and advice provided by the aforementioned advisory group on tax and social welfare. I still believe this matter is worth pursuing because this recession has revealed that unless we learn the lessons from the mistakes we made in the past, we are bound to repeat them. I encounter much misery at present and while I acknowledge people may not wish to pay an average of almost 17.5%, the other side of the coin is their current plight is not a nice scenario either. Consequently, this is a matter that should be pursued.

See this speech in context