John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Senators for their engagement today. It has been a very fruitful discussion. I believe in teasing out issues as best we can. The legislation was published a week ago and I appreciate the pressures that Members are under in trying to grapple with complex legislation. This is a relatively short Bill but undoubtedly any time a levy is imposed sensitivities are involved, and particularly at a time of economic recession people are sensitive to any hikes in personal taxation. I understand this and that Senators have a job to do. Today shows that the two House system is one we can be proud of because it enables us to go through not just five Stages in one House but ten stages so when we are telescoping the time involved we are still in a position to go through the Bill in the detail required. I thank all Senators for their engagement and I hope we can go through more of the issues tomorrow. I have given assurances to Senators that I will consider those issues and they can be assured that I will do so.

Report Stage ordered for Thursday, 2 July 2009.