Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

My question to the Taoiseach is similar to that asked by Deputy Higgins, albeit looking at it from the angle of those who are affected by this dictatorship of the Economic Management Council, which itself appears to be nothing more than a conduit for the demands of the European Central Bank, the international financial markets, the bankers here and the very wealthy. Such groups appear to get what they want as notwithstanding a certain amount of rhetoric and expressions of concern and sympathy on the Taoiseach's part for the plight of those who are obliged to suffer austerity, when it comes to the bottom line, they get what they want. Taxes they do not like are not imposed, tax breaks they seek are given and vetoes they seek on mortgages are granted to them. In short, whatever it is they seek, they get. On the other hand, ordinary people and civil society organisations, trade unions and so on, plead with the Government year after year and are doing so again this year. I refer to antipoverty groups that index the worsening crises of poverty, of homelessness, of emigration and of mental health deterioration among huge swathes of the population such is the stress, anxiety and pressure being imposed on them because of the financial straits in which they find themselves. They plead repeatedly with the Government, say "no more" and ask that it not be done to them again. However, reports in today's newspapers indicate the Government is setting its sights yet again on the most vulnerable. This is because the Government will not increase corporate tax and will not consider increasing higher taxes for those in receipt of more than €100,000 per year. Moreover, as it will not impose a financial transaction tax, who else remains? The only people the Government can attack are the same people it has attacked year after year. The Taoiseach may put up his hands and may say he is terribly sorry about this, it hurts him more than it hurts them but that is what the Government does. As this is what the newspaper reports suggest again, the Taoiseach should tell Members this is not true.

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