Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I also want to oppose this section, which contains the various paraphernalia of the Bill, as has already been said. This flat-rate regressive tax targets people on lower incomes. It is completely and absolutely unfair that those earning the minimum wage or receiving social welfare will pay this tax at the same rate as those who are millionaires. There seems to be a policy of depressing demand further and creating additional job losses by taking money out of the economy. That is what this is all about. It is a continuation of the Government programme that has led to the destruction of a sizeable number of jobs.

The figures that were published by the CSO yesterday are absolutely horrendous. Some 25,000 jobs have been eliminated from the economy since the Government came to power. That has happened because the Government has continued to take vast sums of money out of the economy and thereby depress demand. Small businesses are closing or are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. This legislation will reduce demand and depress the economy further. I have mentioned that 25,000 jobs have gone since the Government took office. If the Government's rate of job destruction continues, more than 500,000 people will be unemployed very shortly, in addition to the 100,000 people who have emigrated. I am opposed to this section.

See this speech in context