Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have already had a significant, but I would not say sufficient, conversation in the public domain on the underfunding of our health services and the belief that the amount of money being allocated is not even sufficient to maintain the existing level of service. Let us imagine what this will lead to. We all have our worries regarding the moratorium on recruitment. We all know the issues that exist right across the health service, right through to the home help that people cannot get now to try to ensure their loved ones can stay in their own homes rather than being forced into nursing homes.

Another thing in the public domain is the fact that this budget is certainly not a solution to the housing crisis. There is no talk about increased funding or targets. Yet I have seen nothing outside of budgetary conversations concerning the fact that we are really getting into accelerations as regards modern methods of construction, MMC. We will see what the future holds in this regard. On some level, a significant number of people out there do not hold out any hope that they are going to see any real solutions delivered to address what is a housing crisis and emergency.

On mortgage interest tax relief, this is a measure that Deputy Doherty and Sinn Féin have been proposing for a long time. Let us put this matter quite simply. The fact is that many people are being left out of this context completely, with no consideration being given to the serious pressure they are under regarding the cost-of-living crisis and the major increases in their payments outlay. Regarding the residential premises rental income relief, Deputy Doherty and others have spoken about the fact that it is up there as being one of the stupidest tax breaks of recent times. I refer to the issue of landlords leaving the sector. This measure is hardly going to be sufficient to retain them. It is, therefore, a cost to the Exchequer without there being any bang for our buck in respect of improving matters concerning housing.

I will deal with a few other issues. The section 481 film tax credit cap has been increased from €70 million to €125 million. The Committee on Budgetary Oversight made several recommendations concerning the Department of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, and how to deal with this tax credit due to particular issues that exist in the industry. Number one among these recommendations was the need to see a stakeholders' forum created that can deal with these issues. I would like to see this established as soon as possible. Obviously, this would involve the Departments of Finance; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

I also raise the issue of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023. We cannot have a situation where agencies like the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, are investing in companies involved in illegal settlements in Palestine as the slaughter continues. We need to find a means to deal with this situation. If it is not this legislation, then we need to find another means.

See this speech in context