Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join you, a Chathaoirligh, in extending congratulations both to Senator Ward and Senator Moynihan.

It is nice to be back. This morning I heard an intriguing debate on the radio about budgetary options and whether the Government could afford to raise social welfare rates or whether it should focus on the pension rate.As we know, we are just coming into the run up to the budget. As the Leader knows, I always like to be helpful to the Government. The good news is that it does not have to make that choice. It can actually do both. Indeed it is very important that we see a significant rise in welfare rates. Bear in mind that in 2009, the welfare rate was €197. It is only €204 now so we certainly need to see a significant lift in rates.

For the past nine years, we have had an outrageous scheme called the special assignee relief programme. This programme subsidises the richest people in the country - the top multinationals - who can write off 30% of their PAYE tax bill to the tune of €1 million earnings per year. It is quite shocking. It involves subsidising the richest people in this country who are being subsidised by ordinary workers and taxpayers. It is important to raise this before the budget because, of course, we will all be voting on the budget in October. I appeal to my colleagues on the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael benches to face up to the fact that it is an outrageous subsidy to the richest people in this State. These are people who earn millions each year and yet they are able to write off 30% of their PAYE tax bill because this Government and successive Governments since Michael Noonan introduced the measure nine years ago thought it was a good idea. In terms of the suffering and hardship we see across the country, there is no justification for subsidising the richest top executives in this country so let us deal with it and let us use that money to ensure decent rates of welfare for people in this State.