Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Following what Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole and Alex White have said, we have had an extraordinary situation today. People who were almost defenceless came out fighting. People we would not expect to be were driven to speak out, defend themselves and fight for their rights as they see them. What is the Government doing about our mega-wealthy tax exiles? These people are as Irish as the rest of us, many are very good in their societies, but they are outside the scope of Irish tax law. While there is no levy for them, we expect some of our poorest citizens and relatively poor people to pay this levy. In these straitened times it is time for the Government to ask these wealthy people to play their part and I hope many will.