Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

No, I am referring to the senior Minister. What I mean by a food bank is a place people visit to process food vouchers. These facilities are springing up all over the country because poverty is increasing dramatically. Recently, the Government attempted to tell people we are experiencing a fabulous recovery. After the budget, it expected everybody would be well disposed towards it and recognise that sacrifices had been made. It then slapped a water charge on them, which brought matters to a head. The only recovery under way is among the 1% at the top whose income has increased by 12% since 2010. While some of us have been suffering in recent years, this group has been doing very well, thank you very much. The Government had choices, including the option of trying to get hold of some of this wealth, but turned its face against making them. If it had introduced a 5% wealth tax on assets valued in excess of €1 million, it could have generated almost €3 billion. There is an incredible amount of wealth at the top of society, although I accept it would be difficult to get hold of some of it because one in eight of the very wealthy are tax exiles - the likes of Bono and Denis O'Brien - who live abroad. Nevertheless, I am sure if members of the Government put their minds to it, they could access this wealth.

The Government could also have increased tax on the top 10% of earners or examined the bogeyman of corporation tax. In the past when others and I advocated increasing corporation tax the Fianna Fáil Party argued that our proposals would drive jobs out of the economy. This argument no longer washes because people know the country is being used as a tax haven.

My amendment proposes that a study be done on the impact of recent cuts, particularly in respect payments to families with children.

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