Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister claims Senator Gavan's Bill would have unintended consequences resulting in tips having to be taxed and made subject to USC. I find that contradictory and ironic, when the State has just given the special assignee relief scheme, SARP, to very wealthy and highly-paid executives to enable them to avoid tax on all their income. There are ways and means to ring-fence the money to stop it being taxed and subject to USC. If they can do it for the very wealthy they can do it for the most vulnerable and lowest paid. The Minister is using the usual mechanisms to hold back a progressive Bill that has already gone through many stages in the Oireachtas. The Low Pay Commission could play a key role in reviewing its recommendation in this area.