asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the National Economic and Social Council to inquire into and report on the distribution and ownership of wealth in the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of Wealth.
3.
In view of the limited information on the distribution of wealth that can be derived from statistics of the payment of estate duty in the past, I do not propose to ask the National Economic and Social Council to undertake research into the question of wealthholding at the present time. However, the various capital taxation measures introduced recently will, taken together, provide a picture of the distribution and ownership of wealth in Ireland and will not be confined to data resulting from the accident of death. I would not envisage research in this area in the near future, but rather after some years when more reliable data become available. I might add that, as an independent body, the National Economic and Social Council is, of course, free to undertake research into the ownership of wealth, should the council so desire.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think, in view of all that has been said about wealth and where it lies, now is the appropriate time to do this?
If the National Economic and Social Council feel it is desirable they will be at liberty to undertake the exercise.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree this is much more important than the Minister would imply and the information would be very useful to the Minister and essential for the people?
In view of the fact the Parliamentary Secretary did not reply to Deputy Doctor Gibbons, I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary, arising out of the information in reply to a question yesterday in relation to the national debt and the Parliamentary Secretary's reply now, is one of the reasons for the Minister's refusal to make this request to the National Economic and Social Council due to the fact that the wealth of the country is now being placed outside the State and they would have no information?
If the Deputy wants additional information on this he knows the procedure is to put down a question and it will be replied to by the Minister.
But the question has not been replied to.