Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and there is some logic to what he is saying.

The suggestion is that many measures, and the position more generally, will be examined in the spring because it is inevitable that this will have to be the case. When the once-off measures wear off at the end of this year and we strip them away, we will see that budget 2023 proper will not have the kind of impact that some might suggest. There have been efforts to amalgamate the welcome once-off measures that are in place and those that will come into place towards the end of the year with the budget measures in 2023 to suggest the budget is more equitable and progressive than it is.

I hope the Minister will review this in the spring. As I said, I believe it is inevitable. The cost-of-living crisis will not go away for those on lower or middle incomes. For many it is a permanent cost-of-living problem. The committee debated this yesterday and we had a debate on it in the Dáil and other fora in the weeks since the budget. Those who are earning between €25,000 and €35,000 will benefit to the tune of just under €200 as a result of the tax changes that have been made, while somebody who is earning much more, for example, someone earning €100,000, will benefit to the tune of over €800 as a consequence of these changes. Once the once-off measures are taken out, next year will be a difficult one for those on lower and middle incomes. Every tool available to the Government must be used. I am satisfied that the Minister has committed to reassessing the situation next spring. It is inevitable that it must happen and I would prefer it to happen now. The introduction of an extension to the VAT reduction would give some reassurance and certainty. I await developments over the next number of weeks to see how that evolves.