Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning, in light of the commitment of Government to extend supports in to the new year to assist businesses to reopen, the reopening of the economy this week, notwithstanding Members' remarks, and acknowledging that the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, the rate freeze, the VAT reduction, and the availability of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, I am tempted to propose an amendment to the Order of Business to bring in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, but I will not. There are several reasons he should come in. The first is the public sector pay talks are beginning, if they have not started already. There was discussion this morning, rightly, on the role of student nurses. The public service stability agreement expires at the end of the year.

As I stated on the Order of Business earlier this week, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, has raised the issue of non-Covid permanent spending of €85 billion along with the hiring of 17,000 additional public servants.To cap it all, this week, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, said there is a possibility some adjustments in taxes will be needed. Is he having a laugh? Who is going to pay an increase in taxes? The ordinary worker is paying enough already. If there is to be an increase in taxation then we need to have a debate on fiscal policy, especially when the Minister is publishing the multiannual budgetary projections in April. I appreciate the work that Government is doing in this Covid-19 situation but let us not go back to the days of people refusing to pay water charges as the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, did when in opposition. We have an important job of work to do as a country. Increasing taxes for ordinary citizens that are struggling is not the way to go, in my opinion.