David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Amendment No. 6 provides that the sum may be revised by the Oireachtas. This is an important amendment and I ask the Minister of State to consider it. We are arguing that the Houses of the Oireachtas should in the first instance decide whether to increase the charge. It should not be the prerogative of a Minister to increase the charge. I will not rehearse all the issues arising because I am aware that people will ask us why we are now arguing that the charge should stay at the same rate given that we opposed it. We oppose the measure but we accept the reality that the Government intends to introduce a charge of €100. However, the Members of this House should debate the merits or otherwise of future increases to the charge. That is a fundamental principle for my party in terms of democracy and the relevance of the Oireachtas. Whenever we seek to raise further revenue from people who are struggling, we should hold a proper debate about the social consequences of our actions.

Irrespective of the position we take on this charge, everybody accepts it will create difficulties for some families. The Minister of State will argue that the decision has to be taken because of our economic situation. While I accept his bona fides, it should not be the prerogative of a Minister to increase charges set out in legislation whenever he or she sees fit to do so.