Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think there is any one single way that is best to help working families or middle-income people with the cost of living. There are a number of different ways. I have never been in favour of just one solution or saying there is just one solution to these challenges. Obviously, one way is through pay. This is why we increased the minimum wage this year and why I announced just this week plans to introduce a living wage. This is why we are currently in discussions with public servants around pay increases for them. The other way is to reduce costs such as for childcare and healthcare. We have done some things in that regard but we need to do a lot more in the forthcoming budget. Yes, part of the solution is reducing income tax for middle-income people. The average salary earned by a person in Ireland who works full-time is about €45,000. If he or she gets a pay increase this year, and most will, the person will lose 52% of that in universal social charge, income tax and PRSI. I think this is unfair. I do not understand why the party opposite thinks it is fair. I think this should change. One of the ways we could improve that is by raising the standard rate cut-off point.

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