Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I just wanted to ask one question. It is around the issue of taxation. I have listened closely to the witnesses and I am grateful for their comments. The one thing I have to say when I hear about broadening the tax net and all of this is that we have to think of sole traders who are operating small businesses that might not be limited companies and are paying 56% tax. At that stage those people are really asking themselves, when they are generating employment, if they are doing the right thing by continuing in the businesses they are in. I have a concern about that, taking that into account along with the increased costs, energy costs and all the other day-to-day expenses that have increased so much while running small businesses. It is just that thing of the whole tax rate, outside of limited companies.