Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

That is the role of the NESF and the reason the Oireachtas is involved in it. It exists to proof the work that arises from the partnership process, as well as from other reports and from the Government's views on such matters. As the report points out, in recent years the number of people suffering from consistent poverty has more than halved from 8.3% to4.1%. It also pointed out that the top 3% of taxpayers pay 28% of tax, showing our tax system is one of the most progressive systems extant. It also revealed a host of other areas in which it is a far fairer system for people on average employment than obtains in practically any other country, particularly for lower paid individuals.

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