Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No, I think it was a question of equity, as has been said, I mean ... high earners had enjoyed considerable benefits over the period of the boom, and yet people on very modest incomes were subject to tax without a similar level of alleviation. I mean, it is true that the environment for that election was immensely competitive. You'll recall the address that the then Taoiseach gave to his ard fheis, where he spelled out a range of issues, I have the list, but I don't want to put it on the record if it provokes anyone to unreasonable response. But it included the measure that you're talking about as well as cutting 1% off the marginal rate, and halving PRSI.