Yesterday, the Taoiseach admitted that his statement in the House that the taxpayer would not be liable for the consequences of the introduction of the bank guarantee was not true, and that the vast majority of the €22 billion pumped into Anglo Irish Bank will never be seen again. The taxpayer is therefore liable. The lives of the next generation have been mortgaged. Today, I notice in the national newspapers selected briefings by the Department of Finance that the Government now intends to introduce a punitive property tax ranging from €250 to €3,000. This is grossly unfair. I ask the Taoiseach to confirm — "Yes" or "No" — whether the Government is planning to introduce a property tax in the budget at the end of this year.

That is a budgetary matter that will be decided at the time of the budget. The Deputy will know that a site value tax is mentioned in the programme for Government, and the Commission on Taxation has suggested a need to widen the tax base. However, no decisions have been taken on these matters. I cannot comment on speculation.

The reports in today's papers were not straws in the wind. They were deliberate briefings to the media as the Government flies another kite.

There are 300,000 families in negative equity at the moment and more than 430,000 people on the unemployment register. Families cannot have any confidence unless there is clarity about the future of their incomes. People who are not yet in negative equity are struggling to meet their mortgage payments. Many people will not be in a position to make pension provisions for themselves. Yet there is no clarity from the Government on whether it is its intention to introduce a property tax in the budget at the end of this year.

The introduction of such a tax would be grossly unfair. Mr. McCarthy made a series of recommendations to the Government, fewer than one in ten of which have been implemented. There is plenty of scope there to reduce borrowing without the introduction of a property tax in this year's budget. It is the same old story. The Government will present straw men when it feels like it, saying there is no alternative to a property tax. There is an alternative. What the Government is now proposing is grossly unfair.

Does the Deputy have a question?

On the basis of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, the introduction of a property tax in this year's budget would be unfair, and I will oppose it. I ask the Taoiseach again for confirmation that the intention of the Department of Finance is to prepare a plan for the introduction of a property tax in this year's budget.

I explained to the Deputy already that any introduction of a property tax would represent a major structural change in the taxation system and would clearly have to take into account the total tax impact on individuals. No decision has been taken on this matter. The Government will consider its budgetary strategy in the normal way and the Minister for Finance will consider the position. I refer the Deputy to the programme for Government and the report of the Commission on Taxation. We want to make sure we have a clear view of the impact of any such proposal. It would represent a major structural change and will need to be considered in that context.

It is not going to happen.

The Taoiseach is refusing to rule it out.