Alex White (Labour)

I have been notified that an amendment my party and I have tabled to the finance Bill has been ruled out of order because it involves a potential charge on the people. I accept this is in accordance with procedure and I will deal with the matter if I get an opportunity to do so when we come to debate the Bill. However, in the expectation that I will not get very far in expressing my disappointment at the ruling, I call on the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate in the Seanad in the not too distant future on the compelling case made by many involved in the debate for a Tobin tax. This issue is highly relevant in the context of where we are and the debate on the banks generally, not only in this country but also internationally. It does not appear the proposal will get an airing in the debate on the finance Bill but the Deputy Leader might arrange for the Minister to come before the House on some suitable occasion to allow us to debate the matter.

I am pleased the Deputy Leader is taking the Order of Business because I wish to repeat the call that the reports referred to this morning on RTE, copies of which apparently the company has received, be published now.