Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed

 

7:00 pm

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

How will this system work? What constitutes a couple? In the case of a married couple in which the wife has no income, will she be regarded as having an income of €36,400 in order that she and her husband can earn up to €1,400 per week? Alternatively, is it someone who has independent means? What happens if one of them dies? Does the other partner lose his or her medical card? Should they take into account any small savings they may have? None of these questions has been answered. The level of uncertainty increases with each passing day because the Government refuses to recognise that it made a great mistake in asking vulnerable people over 70 years of age to give up their medical cards. As I have noted, the income limit is the same figure at which one pays the standard rate of income tax. The Government should not try to claim it now only intends to take the cards from the super rich and that 95% of those who are over 70 will have a medical card. How can the Government possibly state that a person who is on the standard rate of income tax is part of the super rich? Such nonsense is hard to stomach.

Regarding the other interesting point that arose in the Minister's speech, Members should watch this space. The next thing to be attacked will be child benefit. Will there be another debacle on child benefit and will incomes be taken into account? The Minister stated he intends to halve child benefit payments for children aged 18 and, eventually, the benefit will be taken away from them. This marks the beginning of another system of taking away a benefit that was awarded previously, through the taxation system, without an income limit. It is the beginning of something which will cause untold problems in the future. Will the Minister explain how people on the standard rate of tax at €700 per week are suddenly the super rich?

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