Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

I will examine that. During the general election campaign, Sinn Féin said again and again that it would abolish the universal social charge and pay for it by introducing a third rate of income tax. According to figures published by Sinn Féin - in fairness, they were costed by the Department of Finance - the third rate of income tax would bring in €400 million per annum. The Department estimates that the universal social charge will bring in €4 billion each year. The reality is that the claim peddled by Sinn Féin during the general election campaign had a black hole of €3.6 billion.

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