Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome that the Leader has set aside time this week for a debate on the report of the expert group on the judgment in the A, B and C case. I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to debate it, having seen the opinion poll in The Sunday Business Post that showed that 85% supported the introduction of legislation to implement the judgment in the X case, as required by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C case. We do this in the light of the huge change in public opinion on the issue.

Time has been provided for statements on the budget tomorrow evening. An issue worthy of debate in this House, either as part of the debate tomorrow evening or at a later date, is the nature and focus of the taxation system. I welcome the anticipated move from a tax on income to a tax on property. The current system is overly reliant on taxation on income. We have not moved in the way that other European countries have to have a tax on property. As pointed out by economists, this is a wealth tax. It is important that those who own houses worth more pay more. I note that the Commission on Taxation has pointed out that there are 3,000 houses in Ireland worth more than ¤1 million and that ¤500 million would be generated in a full year from a new property tax. It is important this change be made and that it be made on an equitable basis. It is important that we debate the difference between property values in Dublin and the rest of the country in this regard because property prices in Dublin rose higher for a longer period and have remained higher. There is an element of concern that people living in Dublin may be disadvantaged in some way, depending on how the tax is formulated.