Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

For the benefit of Members, I have welcomed today's announcement of jobs in Dundalk.

Fewer than 7% of households liable for the household charge have paid the tax and we are already half way towards the Government's deadline of 31 March. I understand its plan was to use the €160 million generated from the tax to fund local government services. Clearly, that is not going to happen.

Níl sé seo chomh trom ar údaráis áitiúla timpeall an Stáit ná orthu siúd atá ag déanamh iarracht a mbillí laethúla a íoc. Sílim go ndearna an Rialtas meancóg sa chás seo. It is low and middle income earners who are bearing the brunt of austerity, be they people struggling with mortgages, increases in VAT, excise, motor tax and the universal social charge. These are all taxes which are hitting the poorest the hardest.

Does the Taoiseach accept that this unfair and flat tax is destined to fall? I suggest he get ahead of the curve on this issue by axing this tax and instead introducing a cap on wages in the public sector of €100,000, as Sinn Féin proposed in its pre-budget submission. Will the Taoiseach accept that he has got it wrong on this one, and will he drop this unfair tax?

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