Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government has done a reasonably good job at presenting the budget in a manner that seems to indicate there is no pain, no cuts, no new taxes, that it is all very amicable. We were told the need for an adjustment was a tough decision but subsequent detail was very scant. We were informed by the Minister for Social Protection that the general scheme remained the same with no increases on the top line items. We were told that diesel and petrol would not be affected. Some of the spin was even evident in the media. We were informed about measures that were not included in the Budget Statement. The statements from both Ministers were very light on detail as to how the adjustment was arrived at. It is not the most up-front way of doing it.

I see no reference in the statements to the property tax. It is the case that every owner and occupier of a residence in the State will be hit with the full property tax rate in 2014. Those individuals who believe they are not affected or that no additional tax will be imposed in 2014 are misguided because the full effect of the property tax will be felt at a time when the economy is in a very fragile state but is beginning to show some positive signs of recovery. In my view and that of my party, this is not a sound footing for the levying of such a penal tax.

The Minister for Social Protection informed the House how she has saved the standard social welfare payment. It would be more preferable if the Government decided to take a small slice from everyone rather than nailing a few particular groups in order to be able to say that it lived by its promise not to cut social welfare base rates or increase taxes. However, taxes are being increased every year - as must happen - and social welfare rates are being reduced.

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