Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I express my confidence in the Taoiseach and Government. I welcome Deputy Colreavy back to the House. He was clearly not fit to be in the chorus given his party's new found interest in music. We must remember that the party which started this debate defines a wealthy person in a country that is recovering as a teacher on a salary of €35,000 or €40,000. What does Sinn Féin have in store for teachers? It would have a standard rate of income tax of 42%, plus incremental annual increases in tax of 7% per annum for three years, giving a 21% increase over three years. To this income tax rate of 62%, we need to add a further 13% to account for PRSI, the universal social charge and everything else Sinn Féin has in store for people. This would bring the standard rate of income tax for a teacher to 75%.

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