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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Cyprus bailout levy

Summary

Senators debate the proposed levy on Cypriot deposits, warning of contagion and calling for the Finance Minister to address its implications.

We will not oppose the Order the Business. I wish to raise two issues. I understand the Minister will be present for the debate on the Finance Bill and as there are very important measures in that Bill which all of us wish to discuss I do not want to use up the time. Notwithstanding that, it is important that the Minister come to the House to speak specifically on the implications of the deal in Cyprus which is worrying and sets a very dangerous precedent. One wonders about the talk of Labour's way or Frankfurt's way historically, when under the chairmanship of the Labour Party-Fine Gael Government we were happy for a European deal to be done which does not even burn bondholders, it burns depositors. What are the implications for Irish depositors in the future if this is the case?

This sets a precedent for Europe. What are the implications for the Italians, the Spanish and the Portuguese? What we have now is a further ramping up of the eurozone crisis in which there are implications for Russian investors and Cypriots are having to look east rather than west for a solution. Surely, that is not something we want set as a precedent during our Presidency of the EU. It is more akin to the works of Chavez, the Argentinians or other default nations than those of this country.

Another dangerous precedent being set is that under the Irish Presidency, there has been an insistence in these talks that corporation tax be increased from 10% to 12.5%. What are the implications of that for Ireland where the corporation tax is supposed to be ring-fenced? Can we have some clarity on these issues? A very concerning impression has been created about the eurozone crisis following a botched Cypriot deal which had more to do with placating the election-focused Angela Merkel than on finding an overall solution to the banking troubles of the European Union.

I ask that the Minister for Health be made available to the House at the earliest possible juncture. In the north west we have seen in the last week a senior consultant dermatologist break ranks to admit that he is dealing with waiting lists under which appointments for routine matters cannot be scheduled within three years in one instance and five years in Donegal. This is unacceptable at a time when moneys are supposed to have been made available to provide for consultants. The rebalancing exercise to help hospitals to break even towards the end of last year saw some moneys taken from larger hospitals and given to smaller ones. In Castlebar in the constituency of the Taoiseach and the Cathaoirleach, €10 million was provided. Among five hospitals in the north west this issue is at a critical juncture. The consultant in question has said that basic referrals from GPs and the prioritisation of same are now a lottery. I ask the Minister for Health to look to the north west and the financing of these hospitals where critical appointments to consultant posts for acute services have not been made. A consultant is now coming out to admit that the service is unsafe and cannot be managed because he will not be given the necessary resources. This is a very important issue and we will revisit it in the coming days if there is no response.

Comment on this

The Minister for Finance will come to the House this afternoon on Second Stage of the Finance Bill. Colleagues will raise the very worrying situation in Cyprus. The decision by the Cypriot Parliament sets down a marker that the people of Cyprus will not stand for the levy on depositors which was proposed. Senator MacSharry has placed undue emphasis on the Government. While it chairs the European Presidency, the Dutch finance Minister chairs the eurozone group of finance Ministers. I agree with Senator MacSharry, however, that a large part of the impetus for this particular deal and the levy on depositors originates in the concerns of the German electorate and Chancellor Angela Merkel's concerns about the forthcoming German election. It is the wrong way to plan any resolution to the eurozone crisis. Clearly, the deal must be renegotiated and better terms offered to Cyprus. The Cypriot finance Minister has travelled to Russia and there is a lack of clarity about the extent of investment from Russian depositors. Very different reports have emerged ranging from 20% to 50%.

Comment on this
David P.B. Norris Senator David Norris Independent

Less than 18%.

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