Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

The Minister of State quoted the Indecon report. Let us be clear on what Indecon called for with regard to property-based tax incentive schemes. It called for direct public investment to be used as an alternative to property-based tax breaks. This is what my recommendation dealt with. Tax exemptions apply only to very wealthy investors who can offset a large amount of rental income from property. Such investors can offset hundreds of millions of euro in other rental income through the building of private hospitals and that can result in a huge reduction in their tax bills. It is not just a question of whether this State should have a two tier health system. It is about income that should come from wealthy people in the State to the State to allow it provide other services.

Unfortunately, as the Minister reiterated, this Government is committed to pursuing a two tier apartheid health system in this State. It happens every time the Government pushes ahead with front-line health cuts and closure of vital services such as accident and emergency in rural Ireland. It is a disgrace, given the economic position, that we continue to allow the wealthiest people in Irish society to avoid paying tax and plunge money into what is an unequal system. If that money were allocated to public services there is no doubt we would be able to save lives and provide better health care for all the people of this State.