Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I do not exclude any figures. Let us be clear about this. The Government made the pledge to have 80% of taxpayers paying at the standard rate. This was repeated in Sustaining Progress. Currently, 67% pay at the standard rate, while at the time the Government made the pledge, 73% paid at the standard rate. These are the straightforward figures.

As regards removing people from the net, an additional 37,000 people on the national minimum wage became liable for tax after the Labour Court made its recommendation on that matter. It is a simple matter of sleight of hand without indexation. It is similar to the fuel allowance, which has not been indexed. The fuel allowance is €9. I am sure Government Deputies receive letters about this from older people in particular, who depend for their heating on €9, especially having regard to the escalation in the price of fuel in recent years.

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