Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I could say much more about the context. The Bill is attempting to streamline and make it much easier for the Government to get its hands into the pockets of poor folk. That is what it is all about. Will the lawyers be rubbing their hands with glee at this legislation? What about employers who are fair-minded and who will say if the Government wants to do so it can, but they will not put their hands into their employees' pockets to take money? It is totally unfair to do so.

3 o’clock

The Government, through this Bill, is saying to citizens they have no choice, that it no longer needs to worry about their not paying because it will be able to get the money from them in any case. That is the fundamental consequence of these proposals and why this is a very poor Bill. It is why I will oppose the legislation strenuously. Have people not had to endure enough? Has the Government not taken enough from citizens already? Ministers talk about all the great jobs that are coming on stream, but the evidence shows many of them are of the lower-paid variety. Now, the Government wants to create a streamlined system which allows agents working on its behalf to put their hands into citizens' pockets and take out the small change.

We all welcome the provisions that will ensure people do not go to prison for non-payment of small fines. That makes obvious sense. Why, then, must the Bill include a provision whereby the Government and friends of the Government will be able seamlessly to impoverish the already impoverished? We are talking about essential, basic services which people need to keep them alive. Does the Minister not see anything wrong with that? I see a great deal wrong with it and that the people of this country deserve an awful lot better. If there had been proper debate and an open mind on the part of the Government, a far better Bill would have been produced. Unfortunately, that is not what happened.

The Ceann Comhairle has indicated my time is up. Before he calls the next speaker, I wish to call a quorum.

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