David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Quinn for sharing his time with me. I think we are just piddling around here, in a way, because if America goes over the cliff on Thursday, we are all banjaxed anyway. The entire international financial system is rotten. As I said on the Order of Business this morning, tens of thousands of people in Spain are being forcibly evicted, people in Portugal are starving and people in England are collecting food in supermarkets to feed the hungry. I have railed about the conditions in this country for a long time. The screw is turning and turning.

It is interesting that the Government apparently wants to discuss a salt tax. There are rumours around the place. Certain economists have been discussing the possibility. The French Revolution started after such a tax, the gabelle, was introduced. It was the last straw that broke the peasant's back. The peasants revolted. I am waiting for that to happen all over Europe. I do not think there is any equity at all.

I would like to discuss the cut of €20 in the long-term unemployment payment. How are people in such circumstances supposed to be able to access education? If everybody is satisfied, why am I getting heartbreaking letters and e-mails all the time? FÁS apprentices are being asked to contribute, but how can they do so? I just do not understand it.

Who is making the decisions with regard to medical cards? I do not believe they are being made very often on medical grounds. I do not think I should get a medical card because I have a good income and I am comfortable now. I have cancer and I will be 70 very shortly. I approve of means testing. I do not think people like me should get a medical card. I am not bothered about that. It is important that the means test is set at a level that ensures the vulnerable are protected.

The decision that has been made with regard to the death grant is a howl. They tax the bejaysus out of one while one is alive. When one kicks the bucket, they give one a present of €800 to thank one for doing the decent thing and sparing the economy. I am not interested in that. I will pay for my own funeral.

I wish to mention an initiative that might be expensive but would help to create jobs. Perhaps the Government might have the courage to introduce social protection for people who create jobs. I refer to the self-employed and to employers in small businesses who look after their employees. The employees get benefits, but the poor unfortunate people who go bankrupt get nothing. That really needs to be looked at.

I have referred to part of the brief I have for pre-budget submissions. I apologise to all the organisations. I will work in my own way when these issues come up. It would be impossible to list them in two and a half minutes. I hope some of the points I have made will strike home. It is a global situation. There is no real European solidarity. An opinion poll has shown that the Germans are saying "great for Angela Merkel, we are okay, and hump the begrudgers". I ask the Minister of State to think about protecting those who give jobs and create employment. They need to be brought in and encouraged. They will have the courage to start a job if they know they will be protected if they lose that job.