Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

A number of Senators on this side raised concerns about those whose homes are in negative equity, those who paid substantial amounts in stamp duty and so on. We have asked the Minister to ensure this measure is kept under review and revisited should the need arise.

On being lectured and harangued by Sinn Féin, it is quite incredible to hear members of that party justifying inheritance. It is one thing to be obliged to take actions which we know are going to hurt people but which we believe to be correct; it is an entirely different matter to be obliged to listen to Sinn Féin preaching about income tax as though it were God's gift in the context of the country's taxation system and Government policies related thereto.

Sinn Féin is not actually accepting that income tax in this country has been regressive and our taxation system has been too narrow. For a very considerable period of time we have gone nowhere in terms of expanding the tax base. Instead of welcoming this measure, which will hit certain people like Denis O'Brien and other people whom I know I should not be mentioning in the House, and bringing into play assets owned by these very wealthy people, I am sitting here being lectured by Sinn Féin about the benefits of inheritance. Really and truly, it is quite gobsmacking.