I support the call by Senator Jimmy Harte for a debate in this House on the issue of poverty. We all know that poverty comes in all shapes and forms. It is evident every morning in the number of people lying in sleeping bags in doorways, the number of people on social welfare in poverty and the often forgotten middle-income earners who are now the new poor, including prison officers, gardaí, teachers and nurses who simply cannot afford to take any more pay cuts.

I agree with the remarks made by Senator Marck MacSharry in regard to the suggested 3% increase in tax on higher earners, which was ignored in the last budget. I believe the increase in this regard should be even higher. We should return to what was done in the 1980s when we also needed money, namely, the introduction of a third tier of income tax of up to 60% on the income of high earners.

There has been much talk about people on social welfare being exempted from paying the property tax. I have spoken on this issue on several occasions in this House. It is regrettable that people on social welfare will have to pay this tax. We are constantly told by members of the Opposition that it is not worthwhile for people to take up employment because they are being given everything for nothing. If, as proposed, those on social welfare should be given medical cards and exempted from paying the property tax, there will never be an incentive for people to take up employment. The man with 14 children who is in receipt of €60,000 in benefits per annum was mentioned. It would not be worth his while taking up employment. Perhaps it is time the Government considered limiting payment of child benefit to families wherein their are five or six children. I am not in this regard having a go at children or families. We must ensure people are incentivised to work. If we continue to pay people to stay at home we will never achieve anything.

Is the Senator suggesting the property tax is an incentive to work?

I support the calls for a debate on the issue of poverty, the contributions on which have been good. I particularly compliment Senator Katherine Zappone on her call that, for once, politics be kept out of this debate. It is an important issue. While on the Government side, I never cared much for the Opposition scoring points. I also take a dim view of it now while in opposition. There is more to politics than Members continually sparring. I echo the points made by Senator Katherine Zappone. I would be happy to add my name to any all-party motion which would seek to address this issue. We should perhaps invite in agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Samaritans in this regard. Poverty is all around us. It has always been said the poor will always be with us. The "poor" now includes the majority of people. I see evidence of poverty every evening as I walk home to my apartment. Like other Members, it is an issue with which I deal every weekend in my constituency work.

There is also now a poverty of spirit among people. Many unemployed people who are leaving their homes and spending their days loitering around betting offices and in pubs drinking half pints of stout just to get out from under the feet of their families are being vilified for doing so. We must also address the poverty of spirit issue. I commend Senator Kathering Zappone for her contribution and believe we should all subscribe to her view.