Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We managed to give some modest relief to people last year and we hope to so again this year by moving thresholds in a direction that is slightly closer to international norms.

All of the independent international assessments of the Irish tax system have shown that it is one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. To be fair to Deputy Howlin, he had a part in creating that. We will continue to be progressive, but we must also recognise that many hard-working families on middle incomes are under financial pressure and they also need to be given some level of a break in the budgetary decisions we make.

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