Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 10, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: "Report on special assignee relief programme

9.Within 6 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the implementation of the special assignee relief programme.".

The Minister will be aware that I am a big critic of what I describe as tax loopholes that reduce the effective tax rate paid by big corporations on what are often significant profits and some of the best paid people working in this country. When I talk to constituents about these tax loopholes and reliefs, which they do not get but a small privileged group gets, the special assignee relief programme is the one that really irritates them. In terms of the total amount of money involved, it is not astronomical in the way that many of the big loopholes for the corporate sector are but it really gets them. It horrifies them to think that there is a tax break available only to people who earn more than €75,000. I am not easily shocked by the inequalities that exist in society because I have become so used to them but even I was shocked by the numbers of people who benefit from this relief. The earnings of these people are quite shocking. We discussed this matter at the Committee on Budgetary Oversight when we were given a table showing the figures. Unfortunately, I do not have all the figures with me but I was staggered that dozens of people in various categories, including those earning between €250,000 and €350,000, between €350,000 and €450,000, and even higher amounts, were getting this tax relief which is not available to ordinary workers. I do not know how the Minister can justify that. I do not believe that removing this relief for people earning salaries that are unimaginable to ordinary people would cause them to flood out of the country. I do not buy that proposition. This is a giveaway to already stunningly well paid people, one which lets them off paying their fair share of tax. We should get rid of this relief. However, Opposition Deputies cannot do so because any attempt to remove it would be ruled out of order because it involves money. It is important for the record to state our opposition to this relief. I am curious to hear how the Minister would justify it.

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