Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

Their view is very clear. They have defended the universal social charge as if they were the former Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan. One would think they had introduced the universal social charge themselves such was their ideological support for this totally unjust tax which puts an additional burden on ordinary working people and lets off the very wealthy. The Government quoted figures from the OECD and talked about 10% of people paying 39.1% of taxes. How much wealth does that 10% own in this State? This is one of the most unequal societies in the developed world. That is a reality.

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