Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, yesterday showed that those on lowest incomes benefited most from the budget. We have tried over recent years to improve the lot of those on lower incomes, principally by reducing the level of unemployment and providing a pathway and a road into jobs which is the route out of poverty but also by assistances such as reduction in or elimination of tax in some cases and the improvement in the minimum wage as recommended by the Low Pay Commission.

The Deputy raises a couple of important points. I heard comment on the Oxfam report yesterday. Ireland very strongly rejects allegations that this country is a tax haven.

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