Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I want to raise two matters on the Order of Business. The Leader is probably aware that yesterday when the Minister for Finance was speaking, the report of the independent Estimates review committee or the three wise men was published. Perhaps we could have a debate before Christmas on this short, concise and profound report and its recommendations for raising revenue. There is consensus among all political parties about the way in which the tax system is constructed. People will not move towards the taxation of labour and there seems to be little appetite for the taxation of profits or capital. It seems inevitable that additional sources of revenue must be found in the years ahead if we want to provide better public services. While there might be a number of politically difficult issues to debate in the report, I would welcome such a debate in the House with the Minister for Finance. I am not sure if he has been in the House since it was reconstituted after the Seanad elections. Perhaps the Leader will ask him to come to discuss the report.

Will the Leader intervene with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to see if security can be provided to ensure the Belvedere sleep-out, which takes place every Christmas, takes place this year? I understand the school authorities cannot allow the sleep-out in Dublin city centre because of the threat to students in the school. That is a horrendous indictment of our society. The sleep-out has happened for the past 15 to 20 years and raised significant amounts for the homeless in Dublin. If young people cannot avail of the opportunity to give of their time between now and Christmas to raise money for the needy, it is a terrible indictment of our modern society. I ask the Leader to directly intervene with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the issue.