Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

Most speakers have more or less agreed that the USC is very unfair. I have not heard many people say it is a fair system. It is good that the Government has decided to review it, but I hope "review" means "reverse". I note that on page 2 of the programme for Government it is stated: "[B]oth our parties are committed to protecting the vulnerable and to burden-sharing on an equitable basis." It would be nice if it were true, because it would be a noble aim. If there is any truth in that statement, the Government will reverse this tax rather than tinkering around with it. It is hitting the less well off, as everybody has said, more than the well off. I cannot remember a time when I heard so many people complaining about their take-home pay. It has come as such a shock to people. I run a few restaurants in the city centre. Our turnover is down and we have had to lay off a couple of people since Christmas. People cannot believe how little money they have to pay their debts. It does not make sense any more. We are sucking the living daylights out of the economy, and we cannot possibly expect it to recover on these terms.

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