Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome one of our successful alumni, the Minister of State, back to the House. I want to address a few issues I would like the Minister of State to respond to in his concluding remarks.

The infrastructure fund is important. It has been brought into sharp focus by what has happened in Spain. There are particular climatic factors there, but it is predicted that in about 30 or 35 years' time in this country we can expect extraordinarily heavy rain to fall on the western section of the country and a lot of drought and dry weather in the east. That brings into question the need for irrigation in the east and flood defences, etc. in the west. I would like the Minister of State to comment on the current status of the infrastructure fund. Are we calculating the climate change element in it?

Since this Seanad term began, I have spoken regularly about the need to implement the Gambling Regulation Act. I note the Finance Bill gives financial effect to that Act. Can the Minister assure the House that the gambling regulator and the entire mechanism of that office will be well enough funded in order to be effective and operative?

The auto enrolment pension scheme is an initiative of my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. It is revolutionary, radical and relevant to many people. Many people reach old age without proper funds. People do not think in the long term in a lot of cases and end up in a very difficult financial position by virtue of not having adequate finances and pensions. The auto enrolment scheme for pensions is critical. I take the point made by my good friend, Senator Higgins, on the ethical investment of those funds, and I hope that is the case. That is an important point, but the real issue is that we will provide pensions for people who did not have them in the past. People, against their own lack of good judgment, will be automatically enrolled.

I agree with the tax exemption in the case of the Stardust scheme. I vividly recall that night myself. It was one of the huge tragedies of our time. I welcome the same policy in respect of CervicalCheck payments.

The Minister might outline what is in the Finance Bill in respect of electric vehicles. When chatting to people, I constantly hear that there are issues with electric vehicles. They are prohibitively expensive to buy; people find them too costly to purchase. There is then the question of charging points. There is also the question of the life and cost of batteries, charging at home and whatever else. I would like the Minister of State to elaborate on that.

I welcome the income tax provisions and many other aspects of the Finance Bill. We will support this progressive and excellent Bill. It is important that when the Minister of State is here with us to discuss the Bill, we get some clarification on some of the points raised. All in all, the Bill is a very satisfactory culmination of successful management of the economy over a number of years and a very good deployment of that success. On that basis, I will leave it there.