Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)

On section 22, the SARP scheme is an extension of this tax relief. In the context of this budget that is being proposed where we have older people in poverty according to the Parliamentary Budget Office as a result of decisions being made that is going from just over 13% last year to 19% now. As a result of budget choices, the removal of cost-of-living measures and a lack of sufficient alternatives, its analysis shows how on average, low and middle income households are facing losses from budget 2026. This is not my analysis, it is the independent analysis of the Parliamentary Budget Office.

Given the need for sustainable taxation, it seems to me to be absolutely unjustifiable to have a group of workers like this, who are on high incomes, singled out for very special tax treatment. I do not see the justification for it. In fact, we need to broaden our tax base and tax take in the report the Minister launched yesterday. The future of the country says as much.

The Minister has said as much in his comments so far on this Bill. There are old people in my constituency and every Teachta's constituency who are afraid to put the heat on in the context of paying energy bills. Yet we have this incredible special treatment, which includes one tax-free trip a year and tax exemptions on discounted private school fees. I fundamentally think that everybody needs to pay their fair contribution and share, and this is utterly unjustified.