Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

This Bill is targeting less well off people, effectively making middle- and lower-income families pay for the recession. I simply do not know how a Labour Party Minister can introduce these cuts to adoptive leave and maternity benefit. Not too long ago, the Minister for Finance told me that the top 10,000 earners in this country have average earnings of €595,000 per year, while the top 20,000 earners receive an average of €436,000 per year, yet these people have not been targeted. They do not pay a higher rate of PAYE or a wealth tax. Data from the Central Statistics Office show that the top 10% of people have increased their wealth and their assets-----

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