Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can equally make the point that any person looking at how the budget impacted on them will look at it in the round. The Deputy seeks an acknowledgement that in cash terms somebody on a higher income of €50,000 or €60,000 benefits more in tax than somebody on €20,000 or €30,000. Yes, that is correct. Proportionally, it is not correct. It represents the fact that somebody earning a higher income is paying multiples in the amount of tax compared with somebody on a lower income. That speaks to the progressive system we have and which we have maintained in this budget.