David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last year I called for a debate in the House on alternative budget proposals presented by parties, Independent Senators and organisations. The same call should be made this year. It is important we have a constructive debate on the budgetary decisions that will be made. The Cabinet will put the finishing touches to its budget and we all know it is about choices. Choices are open to the Government such as whether we cut child benefit or home helps or increase taxes on those who can afford to pay, and whether we go for a property tax on the family home which does not generate income or a wealth tax which does generate wealth. We need a serious debate in the country on how we present budgets and the choices we make.

When it comes to cutting home helps, child benefit, other benefits or allowances for people with disabilities it can quite easily be done and we are then told by the well-paid politicians who make these decisions that must be done in the interests of the country. However, when one puts forward the notion of higher taxes for higher earners or a wealth tax, and we heard the responses yesterday from some people in the Chamber, one is told it cannot be done because we do not want to scare the very wealthy people in the country, and God forbid we might ask them to make some small contribution. If we are genuine about creating a society and showing solidarity with all the people in the country then we must examine all of the options which are out there.

I ask the Acting Leader to make some time available in the coming weeks to properly debate the notion of a wealth tax. Let us see if it would work and how it would work and let people put forward their views, positive and negative, but at least let us debate the possibility of a wealth tax before we dismiss it out of hand and go after very vulnerable people who Members in the Chamber know are suffering because of the five austerity budgets which have gone before. I seek a debate in the House on a wealth tax. This House could play a very important role in debating and teasing out what a wealth tax would look like.