Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

Once again, a request has been made for a debate on water charges. Having a vote, morning after morning, on requests for the Minister's presence, apart from the politics of the matter, does not solve the broader issue. If the water charges produce the full amount of money expected, that will still be a minuscule portion of overall Exchequer requirements.

I repeat the call I made some weeks ago to ask the Minister for Finance to come to the House to talk about the broader future taxation requirements of our economy. We all realise that the current tax base is limited and that we will have to look at new revenue raising measures and, I presume, some difficult options. We need to discuss that range of options.

A number of commissions on taxation have produced ideas but these normally get as far as the Oireachtas Library, where they rest in peace.

It would be helpful if the Minister for Finance came to the House to discuss the general principles of taxation and outline the range of options that might or might not be on the cards, fiscally and politically, in the next decade or so. If we are to spend endless time talking about a water charges which will bring in a possible €150 million or thereabouts, how can we solve the bigger problems where billions of euro are required.

I agree, in general, with the comments of Senator Mullen on the constitutional convention. It would be helpful to learn more about its make up. I would not like the convention to take away the role of the Oireachtas. I have no difficulty with expert groups or constitutional conventions looking at any subject under the sun. However, we should not forget that we, the elected Members of the Oireachtas, are the people who must lead the debate and take the decisions. Advice is all that can come from an expert group or constitutional convention. We, the elected representatives, are the ultimate constitutional convention and we must not see our powers reduced in that regard.

While constitutional conventions are debating so called great topics, we need to keep up the debate in this House. It is here, where elected people can be hired and fired by the people, that decisions must, ultimately, be taken.