Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, indicated today that he will be opposing new bonuses for senior figures in the banks. The proposal to reintroduce bonuses at AIB is disgraceful and I welcome the fact that the Minister will be opposing it.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to debate the issue of tax reliefs. If we are looking at a situation where banks are seeking to restore a bonus culture against the background, for example, of AIB making €1.9 billion in pre-tax profits, then we need to reconsider the fact that they can write off current profits against past losses. It is not appropriate that the construction industry, which is also making substantial profits again, and the banks are able to effectively avoid paying tax and avoid contributing to the State and to the citizens who bailed them out. I would like the Minister to go further than opposing bankers' bonuses and to re-examine the tax reliefs or write offs that are being enjoyed by the banks.

I join Senator Humphreys and the Cathaoirleach in noting the passing of former Senator John Carroll who served in this House between 1981 and 1982. He also made an extraordinary contribution to the trade union movement over almost five decades, with SIPTU and prior to that as vice president and president of the ITGWU. He made a huge contribution in the areas of wage bargaining and payment systems in this State.

As well as his work for the trade union movement, he was also an activist in other areas. He was one of the people who led the campaigning in respect of Carnsore Point and the question of nuclear power. This is an issue of great concern today in the context of the proposed Hinckley Point nuclear power station in the UK, on which Senator Grace O'Sullivan has worked extensively.

I wanted to add my voice to those commemorating John Carroll and the contribution he made to national life. As we note the contribution of trade unionists and the trade union movement to the public good in Ireland and in the context of my call for a debate on taxation and tax reliefs, we need to restore the tax relief for trade union membership, given that other professional bodies enjoy that tax relief.