Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Social partnership is under strain at present. The commitments by the Government in the programme for Government and in Sustaining Progress, to have 80% of taxpayers paying at the standard rate, have been breached repeatedly. On the other hand, millionaires can pay no tax and the top 400 earners pay little or no tax, according to the Revenue Commissioners. A worker just above the average industrial wage, on approximately €32,000 per year, will pay 42% on a miserable bit of overtime. This is contrary to the Governments promises to the social partners. What is fair in that and what is the Minister doing to address this?

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