Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of the opportunity to speak about this Bill. At a critical time in our economic history, it is important to have a comprehensive and inclusive debate on all economic matters affecting this country and our citizens. At all times, we must take a measured view and get the finances right for the greater good of society. Sadly, however, this concept has been lost in the current debate, as citizens have been largely forgotten at the expense of economic and fiscal matters.

The Bill before us deals with important issues, such as the income levy, the universal social charge, income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax. These are major issues concerning the running of this country, particularly at this time. They are covered in section 1.

As regards tax issues, we must deal with the financial deficit while at the same time bringing some common-sense politics into our taxation system as it relates to citizens. Currently, there is a major sense of injustice among people who are crying out for fairness. For example, on Monday I met the family of a severely disabled young man who have paid their taxes and levies all their lives, yet they were told that their son's five day care service has been cut back to three days per week. I raised this matter with the Taoiseach earlier today. In the context of this debate, where is the tax justice and equity for this family? If a family is tax compliant, why should they not receive a decent service for their son? That is all that families of people with disabilities ask. They are taxpaying citizens who have rights and they deserve equality. Surely this is also a clear breach of the disability legislation. It is not fair for families who pay their taxes and that is why I am raising the issue again in this debate.

Looking further into the legislation, we can see that full-time workers on or above the minimum wage have had their pay reduced due to the abolition of the PRSI disregard of €127 per week. Those on huge incomes of €500,000 per year, for example, will suffer an identical reduction, but is that tax justice?

We also see that the household charge - or the home tax, as I call it - is now being introduced. Does that represent tax justice for families who are in the current mortgage crisis? The budget also attacked children, families, those with disabilities, senior citizens, PAYE workers and social welfare recipients. Child benefit was cut by €10 per month, which represents another broken promise. In addition, the respite care grant was reduced by €325. The prescription charge for medical card holders is up from 50 cent to €1.50 per item, with a monthly cap for a family rising from €10 to €19.50. Is that tax justice? Meanwhile, the drugs payment scheme threshold is being increased from €132 to €144, which is a cut of up to €10 million. Is that tax justice?

Approximately €3 million is being spent on special Government advisers, including family members, many of whom are paid in excess of promised limits and this equates to 300,000 home help hours. In my constituency, Craobh Chiaráin GAA club, for example, got nothing, while €195,000 went to the constituency of the Minister, Deputy Reilly. Is this tax justice? A proposed €250,000 cut to the service for the blind and disabled children on Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, is now on the table. Is that tax justice for those families?

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