Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I reassure Deputy MacSharry and all colleagues in the House that the Minister for Finance will give careful consideration, as will the Government, to all of the issues that have been raised regarding the levy. That said, we must raise money to ensure we can fund what is a major remediation programme in respect of mica and the State must make decisions as to how it responds to the apartment defects report as well. Deputy MacSharry and other Deputies have made a number of points in this regard and I am sure he will engage when the Finance Bill comes here on Second Stage and goes on to Committee and Report Stages. The Minister for Finance will consider those points carefully in addition to the rental tax credit, which must be embedded in primary legislation in the form of the Finance Bill. That will provide an opportunity for parliamentary engagement.

In response to Deputy O'Donnell, I understand that the Minister for Health will be bringing proposals to the Government shortly in respect of certain elective hospital projects. The specific case raised by the Deputy is best left to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to come back to the Deputy having consulted with the HSE.

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