Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed explanation. I was concerned when Senator Paul Bradford said the Minister of State was unlikely to accept anything until he got instructions from Beijing. I thought it was the Chinese Government to which he was referring but I recognise, of course, that the Minister for Finance is in Beijing at present.

The Minister of State has explained very well what he is attempting to do, and he also said that he hopes to see a change in the coming year. I think there is an anomaly in the tax treatment. That is the word Senator Bradford used also. There is an anomaly that needs to sorted. There is a huge crisis facing us. That the Minister has decided not to make any change "at this time," in the words of the Minister of State, gives me hope that something will happen. Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to the fact that maybe it could have been done in the Social Welfare Bill, which, in the past, would have been a social welfare and pensions Bill. To give the Minister of State time to think about it, I suggest that Senator Katherine Zappone and I will not press the recommendation at this stage. I am aware that 24 hours is not much time to allow some consideration for Report Stage tomorrow.