Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to insert, before No. 1, statements on the proposal to reintroduce third level fees. I do this not just because I am opposed to it in principle, but because, as two previous speakers said, of the extraordinary and ongoing confusion.

I consulted the Revenue Commissioners' report for the latest figures – Revenue is a leisurely body, so the latest figures are a couple of years out of date – to find that only 1.5% of taxpayers, including married couples, have incomes in excess of €100,000 per year. Am I to believe that every student applying for third level education is to be processed through a means test in order to find this 1.5%, or perhaps 3% because rich people go to college in greater proportions? Perhaps 3% or 4% will pay fees.