Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Does the Minister accept that a fortunate 41 persons who earn more than €500,000, 11 of whom earn more than €1 million, pay no tax? Does he accept this is an insult and outrage to the 32.6% of PAYE workers who pay some of their income tax at the top rate of 42%? I can understand the Minister's discretion relative to next week's budget, but such plain inequity to the vast bulk of compliant taxpayers whereby a new golden circle of 41 semi-millionaires pay no tax and 391 taxpayers with incomes in excess of €120,000 per year pay either no tax or pay tax at the 20% rate is a grave injustice. Does the Minister not believe that in terms of maintenance of confidence in the integrity and fairness of the tax system, which is absolutely essential in any functioning society, never mind one with the pretension of being left-wing, such circumstances are an outrage to the compliant taxpayer? Will the Minister undertake to cap or review those allowances that are producing this outrageous state of affairs?

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