Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the Paradise Papers. We have all been hearing in recent days about different individuals who have been able to take advantage of some of the fruitful tax arrangements to which these papers refer. Ultimately, it was a database of information that highlighted the tax affairs of some of the wealthiest individuals and companies in the world. Why is this matter important? It is important because it highlights how unjust is the wealth and income disparity across the world and among individuals who live in our country. The Paradise papers highlight the huge unfairness that exists. Many of the schemes involved are legal and amount simply to tax avoidance rather than evasion. However, what is happening sits very uneasily with many of us, including me, regardless of whether we are PAYE workers or self-employed. We pay PRSI, PAYE and income tax and we do not have the luxury of forum shopping in respect of our income tax. It is something that disturbs and upsets many people and makes them very angry. Our country is losing out on millions due to tax avoidance schemes. I hope the Minister for Finance will come to the House and engage in a debate on this matter. I also hope he will ensure that Revenue will be adequately resourced to investigate some of these papers to see if there is anything we are missing out on and if there is a possibility that we could recoup moneys from any of the individuals involved.

This leads me to think about the money involved and what we could do if there were billions more in our Exchequer. A great edition of "Prime Time" last week highlighted the standard of rental accommodation. We saw people living in really conditions that are very unsanitary and unsafe. I call on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to come to the House to discuss an NCT-style approach, which Fianna Fáil has been advocating since 2015. Obviously, supply is one of the major issues but this is also a significant issue. We cannot have people living in hazardous conditions like this, which are, ultimately, unfit for human habitation and, on many occasions, animal habitation.