Alex White (Labour)

I take this opportunity to congratulate Cardinal Seán Brady on raising a very interesting and timely debate which ought to be held in this House and more widely about the balance that should be struck between what he described as individual wealth and adequate public provision of public services. He also pointed to the question of the primacy of the market and the fact that the market cannot, despite what some people think, solve all our problems. We should debate these interesting issues in this House.

We should include in that debate consideration of whether there is a need to increase taxes in circumstances where we have a vision for adequate, better and first class public services. The notion of considering this should not be shunned. We should not avoid the necessity to debate the question of taxation and an equitable taxation system in circumstances where there are so many legitimate demands, whether with regard to autism, the education sector, child care or otherwise. We have had 20 years where it has been almost impossible for any voices to be raised on the question of the adequacy of our tax take.

I am a member of a party that, before the election with other parties, advocated tax cuts. However, the time has come for us to debate the question of whether we need to look at the fairness of the tax system. We also need to look at the level of the tax take in circumstances where we have a vision for a better society, public services and universal child care. Many of us believe we should look to a more universal system of child care. We had a debate on the subvention scheme in that regard some months ago. Subvention only patches up and deals with one element of what ought to be a first class child care system along the lines of what is available to parents in other European countries, countries that are described as our competitors.

I congratulate the Cardinal on raising these issues and invite the Leader to consider whether it would be possible for us to have a wide-ranging debate on this question in the House at a convenient time.