Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

There are exemptions in this Bill for local authority houses. There are people in poverty who are living in local authority houses. There are people in poverty who are paying high mortgages. There are exemptions for such people who receive mortgage interest supplement. There are exemptions for people who would fit in all the categories in the amendment. I have no argument at all with the ESRI survey. I have an argument with the category which states "have a morning, afternoon or evening out in the last fortnight, for entertainment," because there are many people caring for the disabled who do not have a morning, an afternoon, an evening or any time off at all. We have to be realistic.

Has the Senator costed the part of the amendment that relates to the €75,000 provision? We are targeting €160 million to be raised. If the people who are earning €75,000 are taken out of the equation, we would lose about €100 million from that. Where will the Senator find that? Until he comes up with alternatives, I cannot accept this.