Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator also mentioned the proposal to take all Stages of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill on Thursday. I am proposing that we take Second Stage between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on that day and that we take a short break before taking Committee and Report Stages. We might need to split that up again. I understand that approximately 80 amendments are to be tabled on Committee Stage. I was not aware of that when we were setting the agenda. If we are running too late on Thursday night into Friday morning, we can consider the possibility of meeting at another time, if necessary. I understand the Minister is very anxious for this Bill to be dealt with this week. We will endeavour to facilitate the Minister and the House without rushing the legislation through the House. We can consider dealing with Report Stage of that Bill on Friday, if necessary. I have an open mind on the matter. We will probably know more about it on Thursday.

I note what Senator O'Brien said about my suggestion that a public consultation on adult mental health services be carried out. I will endeavour to bring the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House. We will either have one or the other. We will not have both. It is a very important issue.

Senator Hayden raised a number of issues, including the property tax deadline. I remind those who do not have a computer or cannot pay online that Revenue can be contacted and arrangements made at 1890 200 255. I note what the Senator said about the housing market. She also called on the Minister for Health to come in and outline his plans for improving maternal health care. The same request was made by Senator Colm Burke. I will try to bring the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to the House at an early stage to set out his plans.

Senators Zappone and Cullinane called on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation or the Minister for Finance to come to the House for a debate on taxation reform. I will certainly request their presence. I would like to reiterate what I said on this issue last week. A number of independent studies have confirmed that the effective rate of corporation tax in Ireland is very close to the headline standard rate of 12.5%. A report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank showed that there is an effective rate of 11.9% in Ireland. The European Commission produced a report earlier this year which found that this country's effective rate is 14.4%. The extremely low figures for Ireland's effective rate that have been quoted are all based on the same flawed premise - they are running together the profits earned by group companies in Ireland and other jurisdictions and incorrectly suggesting that the Irish tax does or should apply to both. The figures are reached by dividing the amount of Irish tax paid by the total profit figure, which includes the substantial profits made by companies that are not tax-resident in Ireland.