Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have to bear in mind that the money for a subvention comes from people's taxes. Taxes have gone up dramatically and people really cannot afford many more tax hikes. That is the truth of it. If the Deputy wants the subvention to go back up to record levels - even higher than in the boom - then one needs to have record taxes. People cannot afford very many more tax hikes, or fare hikes, imposed on them. That is what is happening. Taxpayers are paying higher taxes and passengers are paying higher fares. Cost savings are needed to mitigate that.

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