David Norris (Independent)

A balance must be struck. After all, people establish industries here, promote business and can then be cheese-paring about their personal taxes. As the law stands, it is their privilege to do so. It is suggested that this should be examined.

I listened to what the Minister said with interest. I also listened to someone I admire, the singer George Michael, when he was interviewed on "Parkinson" recently. He said something unusual for a person with a great deal of money and international celebrity. He said that he felt there was disproportion in western life and that some people, including him, had too much money. He said that he feels he has enough money and for this reason, he will make his music available to the public for free download via the Internet. This seems to be a decent approach to life and I certainly welcome it.

I do not know where a ceiling should be placed, it may be €20 million, €40 million or €200 million. I read a list containing the names of Irish people who have made huge amounts of money, and more power to them. Some of them were billionaires. At that point, money becomes meaningless. After all, one can only eat so much. I do my best. I eat like a pig. I enjoy life and indulge myself as much as possible, but there are limits to the physical human capacity to enjoy wealth. It is rather obscene and distortive that some people have so much money. When Mr. Parkinson asked George Michael what he would say about going back to the old days — a notion mentioned by other Senators — when there were tax rates of 60%, 70% or 80% for the super-rich in England, George Michael said he thought that was fair. So do I.