Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak. When one looks at the summer statements, one would think that everything was rosy in the garden, with the figures that are involved, especially for the next budget. One would imagine it would solve many problems. When one drills down into it and looks at the Ireland of today, we still have a major problem in our health system. I am not just saying that one should keep throwing money at something but that we have a major problem with infrastructure and our health system.

We also have more than 700,000 people on waiting lists. We have a housing problem that is getting worse. One of the first things I highlighted when the programme for Government was being put together was the need for institutes of technology, ITs, as well as universities, to be able to borrow money. That is important given the significant opportunity for accommodation to be built in various ITs around the country that would help the colleges and students and would also help to alleviate pressure in many areas, but especially in cities around the country. Unfortunately, two years later ITs are not in a situation where they can borrow money and the issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Because of what those involved in the banks did, we are still burning €3 billion every year. It would help a lot if the EU were a bit more lenient towards us. This country needs to restructure its debt. We have debt of approximately €204 billion and we need to restructure it at lower rates on a long-term basis. I would structure it on a different scenario to the way it is done at present because it would give us space and money that we could use.

There is no denying there are more people at work. The statistics tell us that. The big question is whether they are earning bigger wages. Many people are barely surviving. No reference has been made in the debate thus far to the agricultural community. Once one goes outside Dublin and the larger cities, there is a major reliance on agriculture. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine needs to hammer on the table to ensure we get a payment of €200 per suckler cow because I expect that when the statistics come out in the next few months, we will have lost a massive amount of the suckler herd. I predicted that last Christmas but it was denied. One might ask what difference it makes. It affects exports in terms of weanlings and there will be a knock-on effect in terms of jobs in the haulage sector and the sale of meal in small shops. We must make sure we ring-fence such a provision.

There are ups in the economy. I am not here to hammer the Government. It is acknowledged by everyone that rural areas need a lot of infrastructure. I attended a meeting today of the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development, which heard a presentation by Anne Graham. People talk about the new green, clean economy but each new bus bought from next year on will cost 25% more if it is an electric or diesel vehicle, so for every ten buses we buy today we will only be able to buy eight from the same purse. Those are the things that will come back to bite us.

I fear that at the end of 2019 or 2020 a lot of pressure will come on this country to change the corporation tax rate. We must stand up to it. People might say companies get away with this, that and the other but they should look at the statistics on the amount of tax that is taken in. If we get screwed by Europe on this, we will end up with a lot less money to spend. There is a significant infrastructural deficit in the west and the south in terms of roads, buses and rail. The amount of money required to deal with that is massive.

While I agree with the approach of always putting a few quid under the mattress for a rainy day, I do not think we are at the stage yet where we are fit to do that, given the number of people, including children, who are homeless, the amount of housing that is needed, and when people are waiting for a hospital appointment - everyone knows somebody in that situation - or in an accident and emergency unit that needs to be refurbished. They are the things we need to prioritise.

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