David Norris (Independent)

I support Senator Brian Hayes in his comments about the Criminal Assets Bureau and the need to discuss this issue. Like the IRA, the drugs criminals never went away. They were in the north inner city all the time. We should note that the establishment of the CAB was largely the result of pressure from people such as Independent Deputy Tony Gregory in the other House, who insistently pushed for a relationship between the different areas of the State and was resisted by various Governments. Certain areas of our cities have been devastated by drugs. We should make sure that the money taken by the CAB is directed back into those areas, from which it was leached by these vampires, especially into programmes such as Breaking the Cycle, which helps children up to a certain point – it should be continued right through to third level to give the people concerned a chance.

I ask the Leader whether she can give us any information about the proposals of the Minister for Finance, mentioned in the newspapers recently, to introduce legislation to tighten up tax loopholes. It is unconscionable that last year 29 of the 400 highest earners in the State paid no income tax whatever by using loopholes in property investment. While ordinary people have to pay tax the people concerned should not be allowed to get away with this. It is completely wrong.

With regard to economists, I do not share the blanket view of my colleague, Senator O'Toole. Some of them, like our colleague, Senator Ross, who has frequently been right in his newspaper column, and Mr. Brendan Keenan, frequently have interesting and useful things to say. To dismiss the entire profession out of hand is foolish.