Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Perhaps in the United Kingdom but not here.

This is an indication that there is wealth in some sections of society, yet the Taoiseach flatly refused to rule out a property tax. Many thousands are struggling to pay their mortgages, thousands have lost their jobs, we see the slate of cuts in public sector spending and the Taoiseach admits he will need to save another €3 billion in public sector spending this year. The property tax could be anything between €250 and €3,000 depending on where one lives and the size of one's house. The media did not pick this story off the ground. There must have been a briefing of journalists in order that the idea would circulate before the summer and we would have got used to it by the time the budget arrives.

Are the Taoiseach and the Government not ashamed to inflict more pain on the thousands who are already struggling to survive? This is the Government party that abolished domestic rates and car tax in 1977, plunging the country into recession in the 1980s. The manner in which the boom was squandered has resulted in another recession and it is the ordinary people of the Republic, about which Senator O'Toole spoke so eloquently, who are being held responsible for funding the way out of the recession. Can the Leader bring the Taoiseach to the House to tell us whether there will be a property tax? While he is here, he might apologise for the botched condition in which he left the State after his reign in the Department of Finance.

I welcome the belated apology by Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, relating to the Air India disaster. The apology is 25 years too late and will be of little solace to relatives of the 329 people killed on the plane and of the two baggage handlers killed in Japan. This was the worst single act of terrorism in Canadian history. The apology is of little comfort to some but it must be welcomed nevertheless.