Shane Ross (Independent)

I thank Senator Leyden. The Bill is neither fair nor enough. The Government has succeeded, in an extraordinary ham-handed way, in creating a new class of victims, which it need not have done had it a balanced package. It is not enough. The world markets, impartial and independent observers, do not believe that we will get enough money from the Bill to scratch the surface. Next year, we will need to raise at least €4 billion, but probably much more. Introducing a complete package now would have been more realistic. This would have included not only public service cuts, but also other expenditure cuts and the tax measures that everyone believes are necessary. Instead, we have a group of victims that can evoke public sympathy and justifiably plead that they are carrying an untimely burden on their shoulders.

Why could we not have introduced the necessary taxation measures in respect of other people? Why could we not have introduced public expenditure cuts? The feeble excuse is that we are waiting for the Commission on Taxation. We do not need to wait for commissions. The feeble excuse in terms of public expenditure is that we are waiting for "An Bord Snip".

Before I sit down, why does the Government refuse to consider the sale of State assets? Mr. Peter Sutherland or someone stated that capital expenditure must be cut. Why could we not sell the ESB or Bord Gáis? Billions of euro in capital that we could sell are locked up in both. While it is not a palatable suggestion, these are not palatable times.