Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I will pass over because we have no time for a discussion on it but I fundamentally disagree with the points made by Mr. O'Brien.

I will address the question on the property tax to each of the witnesses. Is there not a recognition on the part of all of the delegates that they accept this proposal? I find it surprising that the unions would accept it rather than actively campaigning against it. Significant numbers of union members will not be able to pay it. I do not understand the reason.

The wealth tax has been mentioned, with which I agree. There is a bit of a slippage between property and wealth tax. Surely we on the left should be advocating for a wealth tax, which would include property over a certain value, but not the family home, and opt for a higher wealth tax and higher income taxes on people at the top level? Why is the union making a concession on a tax that will be imposed on union members and will impose a very significant extra financial burden on them and is without question going to have a further dampening effect on the domestic economy, which IBEC should be concerned about? If the figures for the property tax we are talking about are implemented - ranging from €400, €500, €600 and €700 a year on ordinary low and middle income households - it will have a crushing effect on demand in the economy