asked the Minister for Finance if he will establish a commission on the ownership and distribution of wealth and income in Ireland.

I am not convinced of the necessity to establish such a commission at present.

What is the point of establishing a commission on taxation of wealth if he is not first prepared to set up a commission with the specific remit of finding out precisely where assets are located, the degree to which they are productive or non-productive and the degree to which they can be taxed? Surely the Minister has put the cart before the horse.

This is argument.

I did not establish a commission on wealth as the Deputy has said; it is a commission in relation to taxation generally, which is a very different matter.

Why does the Minister consider it unnecessary to establish a commission on wealth and its distribution?

Because there is adequate data available to the Government at the moment on income and the distribution of wealth which would make this an unnecessary exercise.

How has this data been improved by the abolition of wealth tax?

That is not a relevant question.